What is this tree?

[Charline]

When I was in Arrowhead PP yesterday, I saw this tree with raised roots in the forest.


What is it?


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fGUHPN6dVNo

[Shortsighted]

Perhaps a spruce. You should have videoed even higher up the tree. No, you're right, keep it low because there may be crows up there.

[Charline]

It's not an evergreen though.

[Shortsighted]

I see, or rather, I didn't see because you didn't pan up the tree trunk. You should have a word with your video editor. Maybe you could go back and try again. Just kidding. Can't risk any more of those disturbing symptoms. Maples have been known to have extensive root exposure above the ground but not, I would think, in quite such a mangrove-like fashion. It does look very sub-tropical. Brings to mind a photo of a frozen alligator that I recently saw. I don't know what it is. Forgive me, but I don't know trees very well, among so many other things beyond my ken.

[Shortsighted]

Roots

[Bird Brain]

Roots

At first glance, this reminds me a bit of "The Blob"! Remember that movie?    or perhaps even the movie "Eight Legged Freaks"!

[Dr. John]

Some trees take root on fallen trees, so the roots grow around the fallen trunk to get into the earth.  The fallen tree ends up rotting away and you can end up with a similar appearance.  I don't know for sure if this is what happened here, but it might be a possible explanation.


Can't ID the tree itself, sorry.

[Charline]

SS, amazing!


One research said that when the ground was very rocky, the tree roots could not go deeper, they had to grow the roots above the surface. Seems to make sense.

[Bird Brain]

What is it?

Looked up trees at Arrowhead and apparently there are 8 main types of trees there.  Some pictures similar to yours on Google Images but the type of tree isn't listed!    Some people are excellent at identifying trees. Sorry, I'm not one of them!