THE ROOT THE STEM. 11 



OF THE ROOT AND ITS DIFFERENT KINDS. 



The Root is that part of the plant which is commonly immersed 

 in the ground. It consists of two parts, the Body of the root, 

 and the Radicles or Fibres. The latter are small branches or 

 thread-like organs which come off from the body, and are the 

 only essential parts of the root, it being by their spongy extremi- 

 ties that nutritious matter is absorbed from the soil. The uses of 

 the root are to fix the plant in a particular place, and to derive 

 nourishment for it. The following are the principal varieties of 

 the root : 



A Fibrous Root (Fig. ] .) consists entirely of fibres or radicles, 

 which may be undivided or branched. 



A Creeping Root (Fig. 2.) is a kind of subterranean stem, 

 running horizontally, and throwing out fibres at intervals. 



A Tapering or Spindle-shaped Root (Fig. 3.) is a thickened, 

 fleshy root, tapering downwards, and sending out small fibres. 



A Tuberous or Knobbed Root (Fig. 4.) consists of one or more 

 fleshy knobs, varying in form, and which are, properly speaking, 

 subterranean reservoirs of nutritious matter for the development of 

 the stem and leaves of next year. 



An Abrupt Root (Fig. 5.) is a root of the same nature as the 

 last two, having an elongated form, and looking as if it had been 

 bitten off at the lower end. 



A Hulbous Root is a root which, superadded to numerous 

 fibres, has an enlarged, more or less spherical part, which may 

 be solid (Fig. 6.) ; coat ed, composed of concentric layers (Fig. 7.); 

 or scaly, consisting of thick scales. (Fig. 8.) 



A Granulated Root (Fig. 9.) consists of numerous small bulb- 

 like buds or scales strung together. 



The duration of the root determines that of the plant. When 

 the root lasts only one year, the plant is said to be Annual. 

 When it continues two years, the plant is Biennial ; when more 

 than two years, Perennial. 



OF THE STEM. 



The Stem is that part of the plant which, rising above ground 

 supports the leaves and flowers. 



Some plants have no stem, and are therefore denominated 

 stemless. 



