ROOT PUNCTURED BY ROOT. 



By Prof. Charles E. Bessey. 



CAN one root puncture another is the question which is sug^- 

 gested by the illustrations shown here. These two radish 

 roots which came from a garden in Lincoln grew side by side 

 and in some way one has managed to grow directly through the 

 other. The first figure indicates that the one on the 

 left has punctured the one on the right and then con- 

 tinued its downward course. This surmise is shown 

 to be correct by the second figure where by splitting 

 one of the roots the two were separated. In the 

 right-hand root is seen a round smooth hole with no 

 indication whatever of any 

 rupture of the tissues. The 

 epidermis is apparently con- 

 tinuous through the hole, 

 and there is no sign of decay, 

 or even of a roughening or 

 cracking of the surface. The 

 left-hand root bends abruptly, and 

 then is suddenly much constricted 

 where it passes through the hole, below 

 which it is greatly enlarged again, and 

 sharply bent downward. The con- 

 stricted part is smooth and shows no 

 sign of decay or injury. 



It was my intention to make a thor- 

 ough histological examination of these roots in the hope that it 

 might throw some light on how one bored through the other, 

 but the matter was crowded aside, and it is now too late to do 

 so. The case is published in its present form in order to direct 

 attention to structures of this kind. It is likely that more ex- 

 amples ma}^ be found by inquiries of market gardeners. 

 The University of Nebraska. 



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