34 THE ROOT. : 
and not its structure or function. By the term “true root,” 
is meant the fibres which absorb the fluids from the soil. 
94. Frerovs Root. This is the most simple of all roots, 
being composed merely of a great number of small fibres, as 
in most of the Grasses, Wheat, Oats, Barley, and many other 
annual herbs. This kind of root is found chiefly in monoco- 
tyledonous plants. When a fibrous root grows in a loose 
sandy soil, it often becomes covered with a fine down, which 
fixes it better, and increases the number of absorbing mouths. 
A fibrous root coming in contact with a stream of water, be- 
comes elongated and capillary, presenting what is sometimes 
termed foztail. 
95. Crerpine Root (repens). This may be considered 
a kind of subterraneous stem, creeping horizontally under 
the surface of the ground, and putting out as it goes along 
numerous fibres, which constitute the true root; Couch 
Grass (Triticum repens), Mint (Mentha.) See Stem. 
96. Fustrorm Root, or Tap Root. The Radish, Parsn 
and Carrot, are examples of this kind. The spindl 
or tapering part is the caudex or body; and this maj 
compared to the stem, as it contains the sap and 
juices of the vegetable, the red part of the carrot being a 
logous to the bark of true stems, while the real roots are t 
small fibres or radicles which it throws out on all eee 2 as 
they alone draw nourishment from the soil. 
97. Vertical roots, such as these, are found only i in dico- 
tyledonous plants. 
98. Anrupt Root (premorsa) appears as if it had ine 
ed to descend perpendicularly, like the Raddish or Carrc 
_ but had met some interruption which caused it to tern 
abruptly ; Devil’s Bit Scabious (Scabiosa succisa). 
_ 99. Tusrrovs Roor. This term is applied to roots 
rather subterraneous stems or branches, which have at 
Tent points: fleshy swellings, e: 
