THE ROOT. 
regular arrangement. Roots are not originally furnislied with 
buds, but sometimes, under peculiar circumstances, produce 
them. The distance to which the roots of trees extend is 
sometimes greater than the extent of the branches. 
33. The Fibrous root (Fig. 13)^ consists of a col- 
lection of thread-like parts ; as in many kinds of 
grasses, and most annual plants. The fibers usu- 
ally ^row directly from the bottom of the stem. 
The tact that grasses of various kinds will live. and 
flourish in a soil too dry and barren to produce 
other vegetation is owing to the abundance of the fibers, which 
absorb all the nourishment that the ground affords. 
34. The Spindle or fusiform root ; here the fleshy can- 
dex tapers downward, and also near the neck upward, 
as in the radish (Fig. 14). In the carrot, the root is coni- 
cal, tapering from the base to the apex. The base of the 
root is the extremity which is applied to the base of the 
stem, and the opposite extremity is the apex of the root. 
The Spindle 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 
be proved by immersing a young radish in water until every 
part is covered except 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 Spindle 
root is often forhed^ aS in the mandrake.* The Premorse root 
(from premorsus^ bitten) is so called w^hen the Fig. is. 
caudex appears as if bitten off (Fig. 15). This 
is caused by the lower extremity perishing after 
the first year. (See 31, h.) The violet and 
cowslip furnish examples. The Scabiosa succisa^ 
or Devil's bit, received the name on account of 
a superstitious belief that, as the plant was useful for medicine, 
the devil out of spite to mankind had bitten off the root. 
35. The Creeping root (Fig. 16), Fig. le. 
instead of forcing its way perpen- 
dicularly into the earth, extends 
horizontally, and sends out fibers. 
The term, creeping root, is some- 
times improperly applied to the rJiizoma^ or root with a creep- 
ing stem, which elongates, and produces leaves or branches. 
In the Iris, it is half buried in the soil ; in some plants, it is 
• j9tropa mandragora. The word mandrake is said to be derived from the German J\Iandragen 
resembling man. 
33. Fibrous roots.— 34. Spindle root— Forked sj indie root— Premorse root. — 35. Creeping root— Ite 
importaace in Holland. 
