CHAP. I. THE ROOT, 33 



SECTION I. 



The Root. 



tion. 



THE root is that part of the plant by which it Its defini- 

 attaches itself to the soil in which it grows, or to the 

 substance on which it feeds, and is the principal 

 organ of nutrition. This definition is perhaps as 

 comprehensive as any one that can be given, at least 

 in the present stage of our inquiries, whether with 

 regard to the class of perfect or imperfect plants ; 

 though it is no doubt liable to many exceptions if 

 made to apply to both. For even of plants deno- 

 minated perfect some are found to float on the sur- 

 face of the water, having their roots immersed in it 

 but not fixed, such as the several species of Lemna 

 or Duck-meat ; and of plants denominated imper- 

 fect some have no root at all ; or, at least, no visible 

 part distinct from the rest to which that appellation 

 can be ascribed ; such as many of the Confervas ; 

 or they are apparently altogether root, such as the 

 Tuber cibarium or Truffle. 



There are also many of the imperfect plants 

 which attach themselves to other vegetables, and to 

 vegetable or other substances from which they can- 

 not be supposed to derive any sort of nourishment 

 whatever, owing either to the mode of their attach- 

 ment or to the character of the substances to 

 which they attach themselves. Such are many of the 

 Mosses, Lichens, and Marias Plants found adher- 



TOL. I. D 



