ral 
36 A COMPENDIUM OF 
RADICES—ROOTS. 
The root is that portion of the plant that is 
inserted in the soil: it may either directly de- 
scend or run horizontally above or beneath the 
earth. In either case it holds the ascending tree 
or plant erect, and furnishes nutriment by ab- 
sorption to the parent stem, The root develops 
no leaves, and is, asa rule, devoid of the green 
coloring matter (chlorophyll) that is found so 
abundantly in the erect portions of the plant. 
The roots selected for medicinal purposes are 
obtained from the biennial and perennial plants; 
they originate from the base of the stem, and 
show many leaf-like Sears, which are bud-pro- 
ducing. In the perennial roots of the herbs the 
base or crown has two or more heads, differing 
in this wise from the roots of the shrubs and 
trees. The tap i 
