Word of the Day

understory

[uhn-der-stawr-ee]

noun:

the plants growing beneath the main canopy of a forest

Explanation

The understory is the layer of vegetation growing beneath a forest's treetops. Though it's overshadowed by towering trees, it can be rich with shrubs, saplings, and ferns. Having a hard time seeing the forest for the trees? Well, maybe you're just enchanted by a lush, beautiful understory instead!

Example: The ecologists walked through the dense understory, taking note of every plant species they observed.

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