THE ROOT. 37 



plants have become truly parasitic, the habit, as it occurs 

 in the vegetable kingdom, being chiefly characteristic of 

 fungi. 



In their microscopic structure roots exhibit essentially 

 the same tissues and elements as are found in the stem, 

 which we shall soon study in detail. There are, Minute anat . 

 to be sure, certain differences of arrangement, m y- 

 already mentioned in connection with the mechanical func- 

 tion of roots, that cannot here be discussed at length. 

 Those who wish to make a thorough study of the minute 

 anatomy of roots will find the necessary assistance in such 

 works as Strasburger's Practical Botany and De Bary's 

 Comparative Anatomy of the Phanerogams and Ferns. 



