42 THE TRUNK. PART I. 



Taste. The taste of the root is mild and grateful, as in 



the Carrot and Parsnip; or it is hot and acrid, as in 

 Bulbous Crowfoot ; or it is bitter and nauseous, as 

 in White Hellebore ; or it is lusciously sweet, as in 

 Liquorice-root. 



Size. The size of the root, if compared with that of the 



plant of which it forms a part, is in some cases very 

 large, as in the Beet-root and Carrot; while in 

 others it is very small, as in common flax. 



Duration. The duration of the root is either annual, biennial, 

 or perennial ; annual if it subsists but for one year or 

 season, as in the Pea and Bean ; biennial if it subsists 

 for two years, as in Dipsacus Fullonum or Fuller's 

 Teasel ; and perennial if it subsists for many years, 

 as in the roots of trees and shrubs. 



And me- Finally, the dietetical and medical virtues of 



virtues of plants are frequently found to reside in the root. 

 The Carrot, Potatoe, and Parsnip, are well known 

 examples of the former ; and the Mezercon and 

 Meadow-saffron are notable examples of the latter. 



SECTION II. 



The Trunk. 



Itsdefini- THE trunk is that part of the plant which, spring- 

 ing immediately from the root, ascends in a vertical 

 position above the surface of the soil, and constitutes 

 the principal bulk of the individual. It has been 

 represented by Linnaeus as being the caudex ascen- 



