CHAPTER IV 



THE ROOT AND ITS FUNCTIONS 



The portion of the plant most intimately related to the soil 

 is the root. This organ has two major functions — to anchor the 

 plant firmly and to absorb water and certain important nutrient 

 materials from the soil. Beyond this, the root often serves as a 



Fig. 21. — A fibrous root-system (Grass). The roots are all rather slender and 

 much branched. 



storage reservoir for food, and may perform various other 

 functions. 



External Structure. — The most common type of root is a rather 

 slender and profusely branched structure, penetrating the soil in 



40 



