CHAPTER II. 



DESCENDING PART OF A PLANT. ROOT. 



7. Radix, the Root, serves to fix the plant, and to 

 imbibe nourishment for its support. It usually 

 consists of a Caudex, or Body, the top of which is 

 called the Crown; and Radicula, Fibres; the latter 

 being always present, and constituting the real, or 

 efficient, root. Radicula, the Radicle, or Primary 

 Fibre, isthe point of the Embryo (62 : I) first pro- 

 truded in incipient germination. 



8. Roots are distinguished into 7 kinds. 



i. Radix fibrosa, a Fibrous Root, composed of 

 fibres only, as in many annual plants, and most 

 grasses. 



2. R. repens, a Creeping Root, as in Mint and 

 Couch-grass. 



3. R. fusiformis, a Tap Root, like the Carrot and 

 Radish. 



4. R. prcemorsa, an Abrupt Root, as Scabiosa suc- 

 cisa. 



5. R. tuberosa, a Tuberous or Knobbed Root, as 

 the Potatoe, Paeony, and Orchis. 



6. R. bulbosa, a Bulbous Root, either solid, like 

 that of the Crocus ; lamellated, like Onions ; or 

 scaly, like the White Lily. 



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