Ban or Bankon
Rock-like roots. The term refers to superior roots on the topsoil after two or more roots are knit together. The roots are called ”bankon.” Such roots are seen in many ”zoki” deciduous trees, such as ”buna” (Siebold’s Beech), ”momiji” (Japanese Maple) and ”himeshara” (Tall Stewartia), whose attraction is ”nebari” surface roots.
translated by Kyodo News