DIFFERENT KINDS OF ROOTS. 41* 



CHAP. II. 

 OF ROOTS. 



THE root, whose office is to draw up nourishment, and which 

 also produces the herb, with its fructification, consists of two 

 parts, viz. Caudex, the stock or body of the root ; and Radi- 

 cula, 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 downward into the 

 ground, and puts forth radicles. It has been distinguished, ac- 

 cording to its various structure, into 



1. Perpendicular, when it runs directly downwards. 



2. Horizontal, when it extends itself transversely under the 

 earth. 



3. Simple, when it has no subdivisions. 



4. Ramose, branching ; when it is divided into lateral branches. 



5. Fusiform, spindle-shaped; when it is oblong, thick, and 

 tapering, as in Daucus and Pastinaca. 



6. Tuberose, knobbed; when it consists of roundish bodies 

 collected into a fascicle or bunch, as in P.ssonea,...Hemerocal- 



LIS,...HELIANTHUS,...SOLANUM,...and Filipendula. 



* Linmeus 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, out 

 forth leaves from the descending stem, and roots from the ascending. Author, 



