INTRODUCTION 



BOTANY 



THE ROOT. (Radix.) 



IN our description of the several parts of a plant, we shall 

 follow the order of nature, beginning with the root and end- 

 ing with the seed. 



The root is the foundation or basis of all perfectly formed 

 plants. It is the part first produced from the seed, and is 

 called the descending part of the plant. This part serves the 

 double purpose of fixing the plant to the earth, or in its place, 

 and generally of imbibing nourishment for its growth. 



In some instances, the inferior plants, or those which are 

 considered, in relation to botany, as imperfectly formed, do 

 not derive their nourishment from their roots. Such are 

 some of the Flags or Sea-weeds. There are also many 

 plants, which, though they absorb their nourishment by means 

 of their roots, are not fixed to the ground, but cling to other 

 trees ; these are called parasites. 



Roots, in respect to duration, are either annual, biennial, or 

 perennial. 



Annual roots produce their herbage, flowers, and seeds, 

 within the compass of a year, or season, after which they 

 decay and return to the dust. Example, Potato, (Solarium,) 

 Cucumber, (Cucumis.) 



Biennial roots are such as produce herbage, but not seeds, 

 during the first season. These live through the winter, and 

 produce their flowers and fruit during the second season. 

 Some biennial plants remain green through the winter, as 

 Wheat ; while the stalks of others decay, like those of annual 

 plants, their roots only living in the ground, and producing 



What part of the plant is the root ? What are the uses of the roots ? 

 Do all plants deiive their nourishment by means of their roots 1 What are 

 annual roots 1 What are biennial roots 1 



