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10 FAMILIAR LESSONS IK BOTAKY. 



that for eight or nine months it lies coiled up like a hedge- 

 hog, its crisp, brown leaves presenting no more appearance 

 of life than tlie empty bur of last year's chestnut. In 

 this condition it becomes the foot-ball of the winds, and is 

 taken up hill and down dale, over the heated rocks and 

 througli the arid sands, but called into life and beauty 

 when the hollows and crevices of the rocks become filled 

 with water during the rainy season. Then its roots strike 

 downward, its leaves expand, and countless young plants 

 spring up around the parent stem, to be broken asunder 

 during their future wanderings in Avind and weather. 



15. I have now told you that roots are — 1st. Those 

 growing under-ground, and nourishing the plant. 2d. 

 Those commencing their growth above, but finally pene- 

 trating the soil. 3d. Those plants that are supplied with 

 ground-roots for nourishment, and air-roots for support. 

 4th. Those roots which are simply air-roots for nourish- 

 ment. 5th. Those roots growing upon other plants for 

 support and nourishment. 6th. Those growing in water, 

 not fixed to the soil. 7th. Those growing in water, fixed 

 to the soil. 8th. Those fixed in water and soil part of the 

 year, dry and unfixed the rest of the time. These, how- 

 ever, are all placed under three general heads : the ordinary 

 ground-root, air-root, aquatic root. 



Section II. — Duration of Roots. 



16. Roots have different durations, and are classed un- 

 der names expressive of their term of life. Annual roots 

 belong to those plants which come from seed in the spring, 

 bloom in summer, bear seed in autumn, and perish with 

 the year. This word we also owe to the Latin annus, a 



15. Please tell me, in regular i?iiccession, the different kinds of roots. These 

 eight are pkced under how many heads ? Their names ? 



16. Have roots different durations? What is the first mentioned? From 

 whence is the word derived ? Signification ? 



