PHYTOGENY. 217 



so far as the origin of mucus and infusoria is a result of 

 the putridity. It corresponds to imbibition and digestion. 

 To this is referrible the mouldy, and as it were fetid, con- 

 dition of the root. Through the process of decom- 

 position, which it evokes in its neighbourhood, it kills its 

 nutriment, takes possession of it, and thus originates 

 completely, as does every first organism, out of putre- 

 faction, out of infusoria. To the essence of the root 

 belong therefore not merely food, but the favouring rela- 

 tions of decomposition, as earth and water, whereby the 

 access of the air, as necessary to every galvanism, has not 

 been suppressed. 



1093. The earth is not merely a mechanical station 

 for the plant, in order to give it the perpendicular direc- 

 tion, but it is necessary for polar excitation, whereby the 

 decomposition is imparted. A plant placed upright in 

 pure water, although with the roots, necessarily perishes. 

 Darkness is at the same time the lurking-place of pu- 

 trefaction, as being that which only plays its part in 

 localities where the polarizing and dissevering influence 

 of light is wanting. 



1094. The root always passes perpendicular into the 

 earth, on account of its greater weight due to repletion 

 with water. In all zones therefore the root stands per- 

 pendicular to the horizon, and thus the whole plant, 

 although this is somewhat inclined towards the sun. 



1095. The developmental stages of the root pass pro- 

 bably parallel to the parts of the vegetable stem. 



a. In respect to the tissue, there are thus cellular 

 roots, as is probably the case in the fungi, and with the 

 fibrils of all roots ; tubular or vascular roots as in the 

 mosses, trachea! roots in the rest. 



b. In respect to the systems the bulbs are the cortical 

 or bark-roots ; the tubers the liber-roots ; the fibres the 

 woody-roots. 



c. In respect to the members of the trunk, the turnip 

 is perhaps the genuine root, the tap-root the stalk-root, 

 the so-called aerial roots, the leaf-roots. 



