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Buttress

Valparai, Tamil Nadu, 19 Aug 2007

Most rainforest soil is very poor with all the nutrients available largely remaining at surface level. Because of this rainforest trees have very shallow roots. Some very tall trees have developed ways of obtaining much needed additional support by forming buttressed roots, which grow out from the base of the trunk. These extended roots also increase the area over which nutrients can be absorbed from the soil.


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