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understory Definition

under·story (un′dər stôr′ē)

noun

the smaller trees, saplings, and, sometimes, shrubs that grow beneath the large trees in woods or forests

Etymology: under + story

understory Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • forest: Habitat: Moist soils in mountains in understory of coniferous forests.
  • shrub: And the Yosemite forest is a living forest with seedlings everywhere and a rich understory of shrubs and flowers.

Converse of object

  • form: Rowan, hawthorn, holly and hazel grow beneath to form an understory, with alder and willow in the damper areas beside streams.

Adjective modifier

  • dense: Small patches of cloud forest still exist and there is a dense understory of bamboo in some parts.

Modifies a noun

  • plant: The plant community on the west side of the Manzano Mountains is a mixture of trees, shrubs, and understory plants.
  • vegetation: Note how the bracken and other understory vegetation has also grown because of the protection from overgrazing provided by the deer fence.

Noun used with modifier

  • forest: Found in the forest understory, usually on limestone based soils.