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Trunk Flair or Flare (sic?) - Trunk Flair is the flair at the base of the trunk. Often mistaken as woody root and mistakenly called root flair. I have been dissecting trees for ten years and have not found a root flair yet. Trees have truck flairs, but, I know of no roots having flairs. Why is this important? It could save your life. Especially, if you are a climber. There are certain fungi that discriminate between woody root tissue and woody stem tissue. Thus the tree may have trunk flair but no woody roots.
In other words. Trunks of trees expand at their bases. Roots attach to trunk bases at a way opposite the branches. It is impossible to have a root flair.
In other words. Please understand we are not trying to disturb anyone. But when we hear the word “root flair” we know that person has absolutely, absolutely, absolutely no understanding of trees. Trees don’t have root flairs, they have trunk flairs. It’s impossible to have root flair. If you were to only, think about it. It means you have no understanding of trees and you shouldn’t call yourself a tree person. We are sorry but that’s the way it is. There’s no such thing. Please define a “root flair”. If you see one, please photograph it. Just as we tell people if you see a regenerating root, wow, photograph it. We want to know about it. There is no such thing as a root flair. Think of the words. Flair means to spread out. Roots don’t spread out, trunks spread. Think for a moment.
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See "Root Collars".

Picture Source - SHIGO DVD's