OF THE ROOT. 
35 
branches of a tree 5 some of these 
branches penetrate to a great 
depth in the earth, and others 
creep almost horizontally near its 
surface. Experiments have been 
made, which show, that branches 
T^/i'^^^^^^S^A Jilh^\i^^ ' ^* by being buried in the soil may 
y / \—^\ A% (/Vvi • become roots ; and roots, by be- 
ing elevated in the atmosphere, 
become branches covered with 
foliage.' We often see the upturn- 
ed roots of trees, throwing out 
leaves. Branching roots terminate in fibres or radicles ; these are 
in reality the proper roots, as they imbibe, through pores, the nour- 
ishment which the plant derives from the earth. Nature famishes 
this nourishment in the moisture, and various salts, which are con- 
tained in the soil. 
2d. Fibrous Moot, (Fig. 13.) This consists of 
a collection of thread-like parts ; as in many 
kinds of grasses, and most annual plants. The 
fibres usually grow directly from the bottom of 
the stem, as may easily be seen by pulling up a 
handful of the most common grass. The fact 
that grass of various kinds v^ill live a^.vd fiourish 
in a soil too dry and barren to prorluce other 
vegetation, is owing to the abundance of the 
fibres, which absorb all the nourishment that the 
ground afibrds. 
3d. Spindle Boot, (Fig. 14.) This is large at the top, 
and tapering downward ; as carrots, radishes, and many 
of the biennial plants. This root is not well provided 
with the means of imbibing sustenance, on account of a 
deficiency of radicles. That these are the agents, by 
which the root is nourished, may l?e seen by immersing 
a young radish in water until every part is covered ex- 
cept the radicles, the herbage will soon die ; — but if the 
radicles of another radish are immersed in water, the 
plant will live and look fresh for some time. The Spin- 
dle Root is often forked, as in the mandrake,* the divis- 
ions of which are thought to resemble the lower part of 
the human figure. Sometimes the spindle root instead 
of terminating in a point, appears as if the end had been 
cut or bitten oft'; this is called an abrupt root, or more 
scientifically, premorse, (See Fig. 15,) which signifies 
bitten. The violet and cowslip furnish example of this 
kind of root. A foreign plant called the Devil's bit,t re- 
ceived the name on account of its abrupt root ; it having 
been superstitiously believed in former times, that as the 
plant was useful for medicine, the devil, out of spite to 
mankind, had bitten off the root. 
* Atropa mandragora. The word mandrake is said to be derived froni the German 
Mandragen^ resembUng man. 
t Scabiosa succisa, or a kind of Scabious. 
Fibrous roots- 
morse root. 
-Spindle root— Importance of radicles— Forked spin(Ue root— Pre- 
