Oh. VI. | ORGANS OF PLANTS. 35 



125. Flower. The parts of this have already been named, we 

 shall speak more particularly of them hereafter. 



126. The root, stem, and leaves, are organs necessary for the 

 growth of the plant. 



127. The flower contains within it the seed, and the parts ne- 

 cessary for its security and perfection. 



Of the Root. 



128. The root is that part which grows in the earth, and su-p 

 ports the plant in an upright position. It sends nourishment 

 to every part. Some roots grow in water, and are called aqua- 

 tic, (from aqua, water,) some fix themselves upon other 

 plants, and get their support from them, these are called para- 

 sites. 



129. The root gains its stock of food for the other parts of 

 the plant by means of small tubes or fibres, which are called ra- 

 dicles, a word that signifies little roots. 



Duration of Roots. 



130. Roots, according to the age to which they live, are di 

 vided into three kinds; animal, biennial, and perennial. 



131. Annual roots do not live over one year. They are rais- 

 ed from seed every season ; this is usually sown in the spring; 

 the plant comes up, bears its blossoms and fruit, and dies in 

 autumn. Of this kind are poppies, beans, and cucumbers. 



132. Biennial roots live two years. They do not blossom 

 the first season ; the next year they produce flowers and fruit, 

 and the fruits die. You have probably seen cabbages carried 

 into the cellar in the fall; the heads, which are only the leaves 

 growing close together, are used for the table. The root, with 

 the stalk upon it, is in the spring set out in the garden. Leaves 

 vjoon spring from the stalk, these are used for sallad ; by and by 

 flowers appear, the petals of which drop off, and the germ be- 

 comes a pod or silique containing the seed. The root then 

 dies, and no care can restore it to life. The life of the plant 



125 Do you recollect the parts of the flower, as mentioned in Chap- 

 ter 2d 1 



126. What are the organs necessary for the growth of the plant ? 



127. What does the ;lower contain'? 



128. What are the different kinds of root 7 



129. What are the radicles'? 



130. How are roots divided with respect to age 7 



131. What are annual roots'? 

 What are biennial roots'? 



