64 



THE ROOT. 



400. Forest trees, being less exposed to the assaults of the wind, are much less 

 fiiinly rooted than those in open situations. 



145. Fusiform (spindle-shaped). It consists of a thick, fleshy 

 caudex, tapering downwards, and also, for a short space, np- 

 wards. It sends off' from the sides and extremity, tlnread-lilce 

 fibrils, which are in fact its true roots, since they alone absorb 

 nonrishment from the ground. Ex. parsnip, radish. 



FIG. 20.- 

 10, Orcliis. 



■ Forms of the root ; 7, branchuig roots of a tree ; 8, root of Daucus ; 9, Oxalis ; 



a. When the fusiform root divides into two principal branches, it is said to be 

 forked. "Wlien it tapers from the coUum downwards its whole length, it is called 

 a conical or tap root. But its most remarkable variety is the 



b. Premorse, in wliich the caudex terminates abruptly below, 

 as if it had been bitten off (prsemorsus). Tliis is due to the 

 fact that the lower extremity perishes after the first year. Ex. 

 Viola pedata, and Scabiosa succisa. 



c. The napiform (turnip-shaped) root is another variety of the 

 fusiform, where the upper portion swells out, so that the diame- 

 ter is greater than the length. Ex. turnip. 



146. The fibrous root consists of numerous tln:ead-hke divis- 

 ions, sent off' directly from the base without any caudex. Such 

 are the roots of most grasses, which multiply their fibres exceed- 

 ingly in a fight sandy soil. 



a. A fasciculated, root is a variety of the fibrous, Math some of 

 its fibres tluckened, as in the crow-foot (Ranunculus), peony, 

 Dahlia, &c. 



147. A tuberous root consists of one or more fleshy knobs, or 



