In the tropical parts of America there is the Cashapona (Socratea exorrhiza), which is also known as the walking Palm. And of course that's not for nothing. If you see in the picture, this tree also runs on stilts. And only those stilts roots give a lot of substance to research and discussion among biologists. 

1. The Cashapona is a tree that grows tall and thin, up to 25 metres high with a thickness of 16 cm. There are studies that show that the stilts roots have the function of reaching that height. 
2. It is also a hypothesis that the stilts roots allow the tree to survive in the muddy substrate. It is not known only if the stilts roots are necessary for this. 
3. The best I like the description of John H. Bodley, that the stilts roots actually enable the tree to walk! The fact is that the tree can set itself upright again when it comes to the ground by another falling tree. By creating extra roots that root back into the ground from above, the tree pulls up again. The old roots will die off and the tree is just a few centimeters away. So he could 'choose' a place where it is more likely to develop well. It seems that the plant looks up sunlight in this way. 
4. The roots can also allow the tree to grow through the stilt roots on all the dead material that lies on the bottom, without bothering them. 
5. And, of course, the tree is much more stable by the stilts, they are a kind of scaffolding piles that keep the thin trunk upright. 
6. There are many organisms living in symbiosis with the Cashapona. They shelter among the roots, feed on the seeds or use the tree as a breeding chamber.! Together, the organisms create a stable and healthy environment.

Here a drawing of a fallen cashapona (2). New roots are created (3) that upright the tree again (4). The old roots die (5). This way the tree could also look up a better spot with more light.