96 



ROOTS AND THEIR WORK 



The food stored in its root enables it to get an early start in the spring, 

 so as to be better able to produce seeds when the time comes. Such plants 

 live only under rather cool climatic conditions. Examples of other roots 

 which store food are carrot, radish, yam, sweet potato, etc. This food 

 storage in roots is of much practical value to mankind. Many of our com- 

 monest garden vegetables, as those mentioned above, and the beet, turnip, 

 oyster plant, and many others are of value because of the food stored. The 

 sugar beet has, in Europe especially, become the basis of a great industry. 

 Water Roots. — In the duckweed, a plant living in water, the roots 

 are short and contain few root hairs. The water supply is so great that 

 few root hairs have been called forth. The water hyacinth is another 

 example of slight development of roots. The plant is buoyed up by the 

 water and does not need strong roots to hold it firm. 



Adventitious Roots. — Roots are often developed in unusual places. 

 Roots coming out thus, as, for example, 

 on the stem, are called adventitious. 

 Such roots are developed along the 

 stem of many climbing plants — for 

 example, the roots of Enghsh ivy. 



Some plants, as strawberry, couch 

 grass, and many others, develop new 



Couch grass, showing how the plant spreads 

 by striking roots from a reclining stem. 



Com roots, showing prop roots de- 

 veloped at first node above ground. 



plants by striking root at any point on the reclining stem where it touches 

 the ground. This fact is made use of by practical gardeners in the 

 layering of plants. 



Examine the Indian corn for another kind of adventitious roots. Here 

 they serve as props for the tall stem. In the young seedlings of corn, 

 notice how early these roots develop. Also notice the manner in which 

 they arise on the stem. 



