EXERCISE 41 

 REPRODUCTION FROM ROOTS 



Materials. Locust or silver-leaved poplar trees which are sending 

 up " sprouts " at some distance from the parent trees. 



Directions for work. Select young sprouts, preferably not 

 over two feet tall, and dig away the earth about their bases 

 until the connection with the parent plant is reached. Do they 

 arise from undoubted roots ? Do they arise at the end of a root 

 or along its course ? Is there any reason for thinking that they 

 might be able to continue growing if connection with the parent 

 plant were interrupted? Sever the main root between the 

 sprout and the parent plant, carefully replace the earth, and 

 note whether the sprout shows signs of wilting within a few 

 days; or if the study is before growth begins in the spring, 

 note whether the shoot is able to leaf out as others do. 



NOTE. A number of other trees and some shrubs reproduce from the 

 roots, especially if the roots are wounded. Sweet potatoes are propagated 

 from the fleshy roots. 



References 



BERGEN and CALDWELL. Practical Botany, p. 33. 

 BERGEN and CALDWELL. Introduction to Botany, p. 32. 



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