10 



THE ROOT 



roots, are usually broken off when the plant is pulled up. 

 They are best seen when seeds are germinated between 

 layers of dark blotting-paper or flannel. On the young 

 roots, they will be seen as a mould-like or gossamer-like 



13. Drooping aerial roots of an orchid. 



14. Indian corn, showing the 

 aerial roots. 



covering. Root-hairs soon die: they do not grow into roots. 

 New hairs form as the root grows. 



31. Aerial Roots. — Although most roots grow in the 

 earth, there are some that grow above ground. These usually 

 occur on climbing plants, the roots becoming supports or 

 fulfilling the office of tendrils. These aerial roots usually 

 grow away from the light, and therefore enter the crevices 

 and dark places of the wall or tree over which the plant 

 climbs. The trumpet-creeper (Fig. 12), true or English ivy, 



