Bock IL of Roots 
59 
by Thofe that undertake the Defériptions of Plants, are accurately to 
be Noted. But the Differences, above mentioned, will ferve for our 
prefent Purpofe. 
9. $. THE MOTIONS of Roots are alfo divers. Sometimes 
Level, as are thofe of Hops, Ammi, Cinguefoyles and all füch as pro- 
perly Creep. Sometimes Perpendicular, as that of Parfnep: Which is 
different from Straightnef 5 for fome Straight Roots, are Level. Both 
of them are either Shallow or Deep: fome run Level;'and near the 
Turf, as Woodbind, Wild Anenomy ; others lower, as Dogs-Grafs. Some 
ftrike down, but a little way, as Stramonium; others grow deep, as 
Horfe-Radifb : Which is different from being Long; for many long 
Roots, are Level, as Hops. 
11. $. Some again Defcend, as Tulips, and other Bulbous Roots, 
which differs from growing only Downwards; in that here, the 
Head ofthe Root is Immoveable 5 but in Defcending, the whole Root 
obteineth different Places, running deeper, time after time, into the 
Earth. Some alfo Aftend, fometimes, and in fome part, appearing 
above ground, as Turneps. 
11. $.  Thefe Motions are alfo Compounded ; both in refpet of 
the feveral Parts of the Root, and of feveral Times. So the main 
Root of Primrofe, is Level; the Strings are Perpendicular, The 
Roots of molt Seedlings grow Downward and Upward, or hoot out 
in length at both Ends, at the fame: time. Thofe of Biftort, Iris, 
and fome others, grow, in part, both Downward and Upward at fe- 
veral times: Whence it is, that Hes is Crooked, with fome refem- 
blance to an S, according to its Name 5 And that fome Parts of Iris- 
Hoot appear oftentimes above the ground. 
12. $. There is alfo another Motion, in fome Roots, not heeded + 
and that is Contortion : whereby, without being moved out of their 
Place, they are Writhed or Twifted 5 asa piece of Cloath is, when 
the Water is wrung out of its as in Garduns, Sonchus, and others: 
whether always I cannot fay. This Mation cannot be noted, with- 
out ftripping off the Barque 5 whereby the Vefels may be feen, fome- 
times, to make two or three Circumvolutions. This Motion feems to 
be governed by the winding of the Stalk; and therefore to begin at 
the Head, and terminate at the Poynt or lower end of the Root, which 
is immoveable. 
13. $. BUT ABOVE all the Motions of Roots, not obferved, 
the moft remarkable is that of DESCENT. Which, although it hach 
been noted, by fome Botanicks, of Bulbous Roots; yet of thefe only: 
Vhereasit is the Property, ofa great many more; and thofe, of very 
e erent Kinds 5 probably,of the far greater number of Perennial Roots 
Of Herbs; as of Arum, Rape-Crowfoot, Valerian, Brownwort, Bearf: 
Soot, Tanfz, Lychnis, Sampier, Primrofe , Ammi, Avens; Wood-forrel, 
Tris, and others. Of all which Plants, it is very obfervable, That 
their Root, is annually renewed, or repaired, out of the Trunk Or Sialk 
it lf That isto fay, The Bafis of the Stalk continually, and by 
infenfible Degrees, defending below the furface of the Earth, and 
hiding it (elf therein ; isthus, both in Nature, Place, and Office chang- 
ed into a true Root. Which Rost, by the continuance of the fad 
O2 Motioñ 
