T O BOTANY. 121 



CHAP. II. 

 OF ROOTS. 



THE ROOT (whose office is to draw up nourish- 

 ment, and which also produces the herb with its 

 fructification) consists of two parts, viz. Caudex, the 

 stock or body of the root, and Radicula, the Radicle 

 or little root. 



CAUDEX, the body of the root both ascends and 

 descends. 



The ascending caudex raises itself gradually above 

 ground, serving often as a trunk, and produces the 

 herb or plant*. 



The descending caudex strikes gradually down- 

 ward into the ground, and puts forth radicles. It 

 has been distinguished according to its various struc- 

 ture into 



Perpendicular, when it runs directly downwards. 



Horizontal, when it extends itself transversely un- 

 der the earth. 



Simple, when it has no subdivisions. 



Ramose, branching ; when it is divided into late- 

 ral branches. 



Fusiform, spindle-shaped ; when it is oblong, thick 

 and tapering, as in Daucus and Pastinaca. 



Tuberose, knobbed ; when it consists of roundish 

 bodies collected into a fascicle or bunch ; as in Pae- 

 onia, Hemerocallis, Helianthus, Solanum and Fili- 

 pendula. 



Repent, creeping ; when it runs out to a distance, 

 and puts forth radicles from space to space. 



* Linnaeus infers from hence, that all trees and shrubs are 

 to be considered as roots above ground, and that this is the 

 reason that trees, when inverted, put forth leaves from the de- 

 scending stem ; aiid roots from the ascending. 



