Stratégies d’occupation du milieu souterrain par les systèmes racinaires des arbres

Abstract

Development and reiterative patterns of Laetia procera Loefl. (Flacourtiaceae), Cecropia obtusa Tréc. (Cecropiaceae) and Platanus hybrida Brot. (Platanaceae) root systems are analysed. This study shows the occurence of two complementary reiterative patterns from the viewpoint of the underground space occupation. These two reiterative patterns are differently associated in these three species and their study reveals the underground ecotope of each species. The impact of these two reiterative patterns on root systems shape, its soil occupation and its interactions in an ecosystem are discussed.