38 THE ROOT. 
113. Thus it will be observed that perennial plants, w. 
live during many seasons, have either a bulb, a tubercle, | 
a woody subterraneous stem, which preserves the vital pr 
ciple during the suspension of vegetation, and contains 
store of nutritious matter for the early growth of the n 
plant. A mere bundle of fibres would be unable to surv 
excessive cold or much moisture, could not contain a s 
of ready formed vegetable matter, and would not be ad: 
to convert readily the material drawn from the soil int 
per nutritious matter. In every instance of the grov 
new plant, whether an entire plant from a seed, t 
bud, or herbage and flowers from a perennial root, 
must be a stock of proper food ready for the young 
114. Plants of the genus Utricularia, present a s 
appendage to the root in the form of small bladders, 
at times become filled with air, and elevate the plant 
surface of the water in which it grows. 
115. Almost all plants are provided with roots, 
several of the lower orders, which, vegetating in 
its surface, absorb nutritious matter at every 
plants which have roots float loosely in water, ar 
‘fixed to any thing, as Duckweed (Lemna.) Aquatic 
_ however, have generally two roots; one is buried 
_ earth and fixes the plant ; and’ the other floats freely i 
_ water, as Buckbean (Menyanthes), and Water Lily 
phea). The Sea-weed tribe (Alg@) are in general 
rocks, from which they can draw no nutritious matter. 
plants which adhere to the branches of trees, drop 
the air, not descending to the ground. These absc 
_ tious matter, chiefly moisture, from the atm ph 
eS 116. Parasrrica plants are those which insert 
in other plants, and draw from them their | 
