basal

Adjective

• of primary importance

• serving as or forming a base
  • the painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats
    

• especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem
  • basal placentation
    
  • radical leaves
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  primary , base , radical