98 THE ROOi- 



knobs,like the Artichoke and Potatoe. "When two or 

 more of these knobs are connected at their base, they 

 constitute the palmate root, Fig. 13, and the fascicula- 

 ted, when several are bundled together. Various spe- 

 cies oWrchis present examples of the two last varieties. 



When the root descends perpendicularly, gradually 

 tapering downwards, as in the Radish, Carrot, and Par- 

 snip, it is termed fusiform or spindle-shaped. 



When it terminates abruptly, as if its lower extremi- 

 ty were bitten off, it is termed abrupt or prcemorse, and 

 when several small knobs or grains, are strung togeth- 

 er along the sides of radical fibres, as in the English 

 Saxifrage, and Wood Sorrel, Fig. 10, they constitute 

 the granulated root. 



BULBS, are subterranean organs, somewhat anala- 

 gous to buds, having numerous radical fibres attached 

 to their inferior surface, and constituting the bulbous 

 root. Bulbs themselves do not exactly fall within the 

 limits of tbe definition which stands at the head of this 

 chapter. But as they are usually regarded and describ- 

 ed as roots, it will not be improper to mention the three 

 varieties which most frequently occur. The first is 

 scaly, as in the Lily, Fig. 11, the second is tunicate or 

 coated, as in the Onion, Fig. 12, the third is solid, as 

 in Crocus, or English Saffron. 



Of these several varieties, the fibrous root is most 

 simple, consisting merely of fibres, which diverge in 

 every direction in search of nourishment, and to se- 

 cure a firm attachment to the soil. Most 'annual 

 plants are furnished with a fibrous root of this descrip- 

 tion, and by a wise provision of Nature, the more they 

 are stripped of their leaves, the more vigorous will be 

 the growth of their roots. In this respect they are pe- 

 culiar, for all other vegetables, when robbed of their 



