CHAPTER VII 



THE ROOT THE FORMS OF ROOTS 



The Root System. The offices of the root are to hold 

 the plant in place, and to gather food. Not all the food 

 materials, however, are gathered by the roots. 



FIG. 32. TAP-ROOT 

 SYSTEM OF ALFALFA. 



FIG. 33. TAP-ROOT OF THE DANDELION. 



The entire mass of roots of any plant is called its root 

 system. The root system may be annual, biennial or p.eren- 

 nial, herbaceous or woody, deep or shallow, large or small. 



Kinds of Roots. A strong leading central root, which 

 runs directly downwards, is a tap-root. The tap-root forms 



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