IP THE ROOT. 



wuiiout either earth or water, and still preserve its succulent, 

 pulpy, appearance. Other plants, under the same circumstan- 

 ces, become perfectly dry in a tew days. This difference 

 undoubtedly depends on the difference of structure, by which 

 plants as well as animals are adapted to their several situa- 

 tions. 



The roots we have described, are as follows : 



1. Fusiform, or Spindle shaped. Ex. Dock. 



2. Premorse, or Bitten off. Ex. Pedate Violet. 



3. Branched, or Ramose. Ex. Most Trees. 



4. Fibrous. Ex. The Grasses. 



5. Tuberose, or knotted. Ex. Potato, Artichoke. 



6. Palmated, or Hand Shaped. Ex. Orchis. 



7. Solid Bulb. Ex. Crocus, Turnip. 



8. Tunicated Bulb. Ex. Onion. 



9. Scaly Bulb. Ex. White Lily. 



10. Repent, or Creeping. Ex. Strawberry. 



11. Floating Root. Ex. Lemna. 



THE STEM. (Caulis.) 



The Stem, or Stalk, is that part of the plant which rises 

 above the surface of the ground. It is sometimes called the 

 ascending, as the root is the descending part of the vegetable. 



In relation to botany, the use of the stem is to elevate the 

 leaves, flowers and fruit above the earth, for the benefit of 

 air and light. It is not an essential part of vegetables, since 

 many of the inferior orders, as the Ferns and Mosses, are 

 without stems. 



The words Stem, Stalk, and Trunk, are all employed to 

 signify the same part. This part is so various in different 

 species of plants, as to require several divisions, and even 

 subdivisions, in order to be distinguished. 



1. TRUNK. The Trunk, or Stem, properly so called, is 

 the ascending part of all trees and shrubs, and of many her- 

 baceous, or annual plants. It may be woody, succulent, or 

 fleshy ; also medullary, that is, containing a pith, or it may 

 be empty, hollow, simple, branched, tyc. fyc. 



Woody Stem, (Caulis ligneus.) Trees and shrubs gen 

 erally have solid, or woody stems. This kind of stem, which 



How is the fact accounted for that some plants will live and thrive 



without roots? What are the several species of roots described ? What 



part of the plant is the stem 1 What is the use of the stem ? What 

 other words are used to signify the same part ? 



