overstory

[ oh-ver-stawr-ee, -stohr-ee ]
/ ˈoʊ vərˌstɔr i, -ˌstoʊr i /

noun, plural o·ver·sto·ries.

the uppermost layer of foliage in a forest, forming the canopy.

Origin of overstory

1480–90, for an earlier sense; 1955–60 for current sense; over- + story2

Example sentences from the Web for overstory