diff --git a/include/boost/intrusive/bstree.hpp b/include/boost/intrusive/bstree.hpp
index 4335d76..f2cdb42 100644
--- a/include/boost/intrusive/bstree.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/intrusive/bstree.hpp
@@ -838,6 +838,27 @@ class bstree_impl
    //! <b>Throws</b>: Nothing.
    const_reverse_iterator crend() const;
 
+   //! <b>Effects</b>: Returns a iterator pointing to the root node of the container or end() if not present.
+   //!
+   //! <b>Complexity</b>: Constant.
+   //!
+   //! <b>Throws</b>: Nothing.
+   iterator root();
+
+   //! <b>Effects</b>: Returns a const_iterator pointing to the root node of the container or cend() if not present.
+   //!
+   //! <b>Complexity</b>: Constant.
+   //!
+   //! <b>Throws</b>: Nothing.
+   const_iterator root() const;
+
+   //! <b>Effects</b>: Returns a const_iterator pointing to the root node of the container or cend() if not present.
+   //!
+   //! <b>Complexity</b>: Constant.
+   //!
+   //! <b>Throws</b>: Nothing.
+   const_iterator croot() const;
+
    #endif   //#ifdef BOOST_INTRUSIVE_DOXYGEN_INVOKED
 
    //! <b>Precondition</b>: end_iterator must be a valid end iterator
diff --git a/test/generic_assoc_test.hpp b/test/generic_assoc_test.hpp
index 5c64b4f..c3d81b6 100644
--- a/test/generic_assoc_test.hpp
+++ b/test/generic_assoc_test.hpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ struct test_generic_assoc
    typedef typename ContainerDefiner::value_cont_type    value_cont_type;
 
    static void test_all(value_cont_type&);
+   static void test_root(value_cont_type&);
    static void test_clone(value_cont_type&);
    static void test_insert_erase_burst();
    static void test_container_from_end(value_cont_type&, detail::true_type);
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ void test_generic_assoc<ContainerDefiner>::test_all(value_cont_type& values)
 {
    typedef typename ContainerDefiner::template container
       <>::type assoc_type;
+   test_root(values);
    test_clone(values);
    test_container_from_end(values, detail::bool_< assoc_type::has_container_from_iterator >());
    test_splay_up(values, detail::bool_< has_splay< assoc_type >::value >());
@@ -146,8 +148,37 @@ void test_generic_assoc<ContainerDefiner>::test_all(value_cont_type& values)
 }
 
 template<class ContainerDefiner>
-void test_generic_assoc<ContainerDefiner>
-   ::test_clone(value_cont_type& values)
+void test_generic_assoc<ContainerDefiner>::test_root(value_cont_type& values)
+{
+   typedef typename ContainerDefiner::template container<>::type  assoc_type;
+   typedef typename assoc_type::iterator                          iterator;
+   typedef typename assoc_type::const_iterator                    const_iterator;
+
+   assoc_type testset1;
+   const assoc_type &ctestset1 = testset1;;
+
+   BOOST_TEST( testset1.root()  ==  testset1.end());
+   BOOST_TEST(ctestset1.root()  == ctestset1.cend());
+   BOOST_TEST( testset1.croot() == ctestset1.cend());
+
+
+   testset1.insert(values.begin(), values.begin() + values.size());
+
+   iterator i = testset1.root();
+   iterator i2(i);
+   BOOST_TEST( i.go_parent().go_parent() == i2);
+
+   const_iterator ci = ctestset1.root();
+   const_iterator ci2(ci);
+   BOOST_TEST( ci.go_parent().go_parent() == ci2);
+
+   ci = testset1.croot();
+   ci2 = ci;
+   BOOST_TEST( ci.go_parent().go_parent() == ci2);
+}
+
+template<class ContainerDefiner>
+void test_generic_assoc<ContainerDefiner>::test_clone(value_cont_type& values)
 {
    {
       typedef typename ContainerDefiner::template container