GLOSSARY OF 



BOTANICAL TEEMS 



USED IN PLANT DESCKIPTIOF. 



THE ROOT. 

 Origin. 



J'KUfAKV : when original inp directlj- from the lower end of 

 the radicle of the embryo (Fip. 1). Such a root is usuallj' 

 (but not always) single, and may send out lateral fibres 

 as it grows ; such fibres or branches are included in the 

 primary root. 



Annuals and biennials, and many trees, have, as a rule, 

 only primary roots. 



Sbconoary : when originating from any other part of the 

 riant than tlie end of tiie radicle, as troni the sides of 

 btems {t'ig. 2), from tubers, rootstocks, buios, cuttings, 

 etc. 



Perennial herbs, ^creeping plants, and most .shrubs, pro- 

 duce such roots abundantly. 



Form, 



Tap : having a main central axis, distinctly larger than any 

 of the branches (Fie. 3\. 



FiBBOUS : made up of many similar parts without a distinct 

 central axis (Fig. 4). 



A tap-root is 



(a) Conical, when it gTaduall3' tapers from a broad top 

 (Fig. 5). 



(b) Spindle-shaped or /tLii/nrni, when thickest in the 

 middle (Fig. 6). 



(c) Turnip-Hhapf^d or napi/orm, when nearly globular 

 with an abruptly tapering ba.se (Fig. 7). 



Fibrou.s roots are 



(a) 0/ cname thrrads, as in Buttercup. 



(b) Of fine ihreadji, as in any common grass. 



(c) Fascirlrd or chudpred or tid)erous, when each of 

 the fibres has Wjcome a fleshy mas.s, as in Peony (Fig. 8). 



(In description the Variety may follow thn f^orm on the 

 5>»m« liii«> ; f'lr ixatnrilf VdHNf: T'lji. '■/,7ii''nl.) 



Colour. 



In many plants the colour of the root is characteristic, and 

 should always Ix? given in the description. 



Fig. 6. 





' -%. ^' 



Fiff. a 



