THE ROOT AND ITS FUNCTIONS 



41 



all directions and forming a fibrous root-systoni (Fig. 21). Its 

 advantages for anchorage and absorption ai'e obvious. Somewhat 

 less common arc types which poss(\ss a single main root or iap- 



FiG. 22. — A tap-root system (Dandelion). From the tap-root a large number of 

 smaller, lateral roots arise. 



root, penetrating deeply into the soil and much stouter than the 

 lateral roots which arise from it (Fig. 22). Tap-roots lend them- 

 selves readily to storage purposes and frecjuenfly ])ecome large 

 and fleshy. The root-systems of many jilants are internuMlinte 



