Noun
understory (plural understories or (rare) understorys) (chiefly American spelling)
(architecture, dated, also figuratively) A story of a building below the stories generally used for residence or work.
(ecology, also attributively) The (layer of) plants that grow in the shade of the canopy of a forest above the forest floor.
Synonyms: underbrush, undergrowth
Antonyms: overstorey, overstory
In these forests, light is structured on a vertical gradient, powerful at the canopy and increasingly weaker as it filters down to the darkest parts of the understory. Source: Internet
Cacao trees are small, understory trees that need rich, well-drained soils. Source: Internet
Clearing open areas within forests to some extent may actually benefit deer populations by exposing the understory and allowing the types of grasses, weeds, and herbs to grow that deer like to eat. Source: Internet
Forest floors have a diverse set of understory shrubs and fungi. Source: Internet
In well-developed stands the larger trees exceed convert in height, there is a fairly continuous canopy at convert, and the shaded understory is moderately dense. Source: Internet
Many seedlings that will grow to the canopy level are present in the understory. Source: Internet