LECT. V.] THE ROOT. 195 



the latter, are appendages only to the real roots, 

 which are fibrous arid issue from the basis of the 

 stem, or the herbaceous part of the plant, and 

 not from the surface of the tubers. 



Besides these roots which take the perpendi- 

 cular, or the horizontal direction, there are some 

 that assume an intermediate one, in which case 

 the root is said to be oblique (R. obliqua) ; but, as 

 in general, there is always an approximation either 

 to the perpendicular or the horizontal, the truly 

 oblique root is .very uncommon. In observing the 

 position of roots in the ground, it should be recol- 

 lected that it is the main root or caudex only which 

 determines this point; and that, whatever its di- 

 rection may be, that of the rootlets is always dif- 

 ferent: thus, in perpendicular roots, the rootlets 

 spread either horizontally or obliquely ; whilst in 

 the horizontal and the oblique they descend per- 

 pendicularly ; or, in every instance, they form an 

 angle more or less acute with the surface of the 

 caudex. The main root should be entire, also, be- 

 fore its direction or character can be accurately 

 ascertained ; for, if the apex be destroyed by any 

 means, the caudex no longer elongates ; but sends 

 off lateral shoots, which necessarily take an op- 

 posite direction from that which is natural to the 

 root. 



The situation of the root, in regard to the 

 stem or the herbaceous part of the plant, is ge- 



o2 



