Grasslands contribute to soil organic matter, stored mainly in their extensive fibrous root mats.

The soil beneath the root mat is mostly poor.

But the real problem is underground, where the ivy's dense, shallow root mat takes up most of the water before the tree can get any.

Soils are saturated and root mats above the soil are common.

Studies on B. integrifolia suggest that its proteoid root mat achieves this by chemically modifying its soil environment.

If the flower border has some thick root mats that need dividing, there is also still time.

Trees, root mats, and other wetland vegetation also slow the speed of flood waters and distribute them more slowly over the floodplain.

Specimens also can be found among submerged leaf litter and among root mats of riparian plants, like Symmeria paniculata (Polygonaceae).

P. lyra is predominantly nocturnal, and spends most of day time sheltered among submersed root mats or buried in sand.

This ensures that the thick root mat, which develops in the bottom of the channel, has an upper surface, which, although moist, is in the air.