Buttress Root
/BUT-ris ROOT/🌲 Arboriculture●● Intermediate
Also known as: flare root, surface root
An above-ground, plate-like extension of the lateral roots at the base of a tree trunk, creating a flared or buttressed appearance. Buttress roots provide structural stability, particularly in shallow soils or wet conditions where deep root penetration is limited. They are especially prominent in tropical trees but also occur in temperate species like beeches and tulip poplars. Surface buttress roots can lift pavements and complicate mowing in urban settings.
Etymology
Old French boutres (thrusting arch) + Old English rot (root)
Example
“The dramatic buttress roots of this mature beech extend several feet from the trunk and should never be cut or buried.”