The Tree and How it Lives 



a few years; but the tree is a plant that lives on 

 and on, year after year, often for a hundred 

 years and more. 



Every tree has three great parts the roots, 

 the trunk, and the top or crown. If it were not for 

 its roots, the tree would soon 

 fall. The roots hold the tree 

 in place, helping it to grow 

 tall and straight. They do 

 more than that, for without 

 them the tree would have 

 little to eat or drink. Some 

 of these roots are very long 

 and strong, reaching far into 

 the ground to support and 

 hold up the tree. Deep down 

 in the earth they go, to find 

 water and foods for the tree above. On the 

 ends of these large, strong roots are a great 

 many little roots or rootlets. These are the 

 younger parts of the roots, and so fine and small 

 that sometimes they are called "root hairs." 

 The root hairs drink a great deal of water. They 

 also take up some mineral foods which the tree 

 needs in growing. 



ROOTS OF A TREE 



