11 



Root. 



The Root is the part that strikes into the 

 earth when a seed begins to grow, and which 

 afterwards continues to lengthen beneath the 

 soil. But some roots do not require the soil, 

 and draw their nutriment from the atmosphere, 

 as the Ivy, Air-Plants, &c., others live on the 

 juices of trees, as the Misletoe, &c., they are 

 called parasitical. 



It is distinguished from the stem by the 

 absence of leaves in any state, of regular leaf- 

 buds ; of evaporating pores, or stomata ; and 

 of pith in Exogenous plants. 



Therefore, such underground bodies as those 

 called Tuber of the Potato ; Bulb of the Onion ; 

 and solid Bulb or Cormus of the Crocus, are 

 not roots. 



The office of the root is to absorb food, in a 

 fluid or gaseous state ; and also to fix the plant 

 in the soil, or to some firm support. 



The latter office is essential to the certain 

 and regular performance of the former. 



It is not by their surface only that roots ab- 

 sorb food; it is chiefly by their young and 

 newly formed extremities, called Spongioles. 



