STRATEGIES OF UNDERGROUND OCCUPATION BY T HE ROOT SYSTEMS OF TREES

Development and reiterative patterns of Laetia procera Loefl. (Flacour tiaceae), Cecropia obtusa Trec. (Cecropiaceae) and Platanus hybrida Br ot. (Platanaceae) root systems are analysed. This study shows the occu rence of two complementary reiterative patterns from the viewpoint of the underground space occupation. These two reiterative patterns are d ifferently associated in these three species and their study reveals t he underground ecotope of each species. The impact of these two reiter ative patterns on root systems shape, its soil occupation and its inte ractions in an ecosystem are discussed.