Endocormic roots: transforming death into life

Abstract

ABSTRACT There is a substantial literature on the production of adventitious roots by the trunks and branches by intact trees but one type that has received very little attention are the endocormic roots that develop inside the trunks of old trees with extensive heart rot. They were first described in 1853 and are an indicator of the senescent phase of a tree’s life span. Endocormic roots are produced by wound-wood that comes in contact with its own rotten heartwood. As the tree’s core hollows out, endocormic roots can grow down through the trunk into the soil where they have the potential to produce a new root system and thicken into columns that support the hollow stem. While the formation of endocormic roots has been documented in many angiosperms, it is a relatively uncommon phenomenon that develops mainly in ancient trees that have experienced extensive branch loss due to natural disturbances or pollarding. A parallel term, epicormic roots, is proposed to describe adventitious roots produced by the trunk or branches of a tree that come in contact with the soil.