LECT. IV.] THE ROOT. 139 



not a fibrous root, the hairlike tufts of which it 

 consists being attached to a caudex which fixes 

 the character of the root. The male Fern, Aspi- 

 dium 'Filix mas, affords a good example of the 

 tufted or cespitose root. 



c. The Funiliform or cordlike root (Radix 

 fumliformh) is formed of thick fibres resembling 

 cords more or less fine, generally simple, but 

 sometimes slightly ramified. In the Palms which 

 have roots of this description, the cords are very 

 strong and diverging, so as to take a firm hold of 

 the ground and maintain the perpendicularity of 

 the plant, a circumstance of great importance to 

 this tribe of vegetables, many of which are simple 

 columns rising more than a hundred feet in height, 

 and bearing the whole weight of their magnificent 

 foliage at the summit. The succulent plants of 

 tropical climates also, which obtain the greater 

 part of their support by the absorbing organs of 

 the leaves and stems attracting the moisture of 

 the atmosphere, have funiliform roots, the ^chief 

 use of which is to rivet them down to the soil, and 

 secure their stability. 



ii. The BRANCHED ROOT (Radix ramosa) con- 

 sists of a caudex or main root, divided into lateral 

 branches*, which are again subdivided and ulti- 



* " Ramosa quae in laterales ramos dividitur.'* Phil. Bot. 

 80. 



