SECTION II. 
ANATOMY OF THE NUTRITIVE ORGANS. 
; - The nutritive organs have for their object, the growth 
. oe preservation of life in the vegetable. The root draws 
nutritive fluids from the earth. The stem transmits them to 
the leaves, modifying them probably in their passage through 
it. The leaves render them fit for the nutrition of the plant. 
These parts originate from a seed or bud, (70), which, when 
it begins to grow, enlarges in three directions, downwards, 
forming the root, or descending axis ; upwards forming the 
stem, or ascending axis ; and these two parts, at the same time, 
extend laterally. The point between the root and stem, from _ 
ife-knot, or neck, or collet, by the French. This, which is 
a distinctly marked point in the seed, when first beginning to 
sprout, becomes afterwards lost in a manner, between stem 
and root. 
CHAP. 1—THE ROOT (RADIX.) 
81. This is the lower extremity of the plant: fixes it to 
the soil or to the substance on which it grows, preventing it 
being rooted up or upset by animals or the wind; absorbs 
nutritious matter for its support ; and excretes or Boe out : 
any noxious or useless matters, : 
82. Almost all plants are provided with distinct roots, 
some of the simpler kinds, which absorb nutritious: m: 
which the two axes are supposed to elongate, is called the 
