Mechanical supporting system at the base of a tree, usually a woody fin.
Flattened support structures at the base of the trunk of certain types of trees, particularly in the tropics.
Planklike supporting structure extending outward from the base of a tree trunk at the juncture of the roots and trunk. Some are relatively narrow but very tall (10 m [30 ft] or more) and extend high up on the tree trunk, others are fairly low but extend far outward from the base of the tree, merging with surface roots.
Large, laterally flattened roots at the base of usually tall, shallow-rooted rainforest trees. These are mainly produced for the support of the plant.
A wedge-shaped outgrowth of a tree trunk at the base, expanding the tree’s area of contact with the soil. Buttresses allow a stronger and more stable connection between the tree’s trunk and the large mat of shallow roots characteristic of tree species that grow in shallow or poorly drained soil.