OP THE ROOT. 
51 
OF THE ROOT. 
The root (radix) is that part of the vegetable which enters the 
earth, and extends in a direction contrary to the growth of the 
stem ; it supports the plant in an upright position, and at the 
same time gives nourishment to every part of it. There are ex- 
ceptions to the general fact, of a root being fixed in the ground, 
as some plants called aquatic , grow in the water ; others called 
parasitic, have no root, but fix themselves upon other objects, 
and derive sustenance from them. The sea-weed is an example 
of aquatic, and the misseltoe of parasitic plants. 
The Root consists of two parts, the Caudex, or main body of 
the root, and the Radicle , or fibres ; these are a kind of capilla- 
ry or hair-like tubes, which absorb the nourishment that is con- 
veyed to other parts of the plant. 
DURATION OF ROOTS. 
Roots with respect to duration are annual , biennial or peren- 
nial. 
Annual roots — are such as live but one year. They come 
from the seed in the spring, and die in autumn, including such 
as are raised from the seed every year : as peas, beans, cucum- 
bers, &c. 
Biennial roots — are such as live two years. They do not 
produce any flowers the first season, the next summer they blos- 
som, the seeds mature, and the roots die. The roots of cabbages 
are often, after the first season, preserved in cellars during the 
winter. In the spring they are set out in gardens, and produce 
flowers ; the petals of which, in time, fall off, and the germ grows 
into a pod or silique, which contains the seed. The root having 
performed this office, then dies, and no process can restore it to 
life ; the flowering is thought to exhaust the vital energy or liv- 
ing principle. The onion, beet and carrot are biennial plants. 
Perennial roots — are those whose existence is prolonged a 
number of years to an indefinite period ; as the asparagus, ge- 
ranium, and rose ; also trees and shrubs. Climate and cultiva- 
tion affect the duration of the roots of vegetables. Many peren- 
nial plants become annual by trasplanting them into cold cli- 
mates : the garden nasturtion, originally a perennial shrub in 
South America, has become in our latitude an annual plant. 
Definition of the root — Exceptions to a general fact — Division of the root 
— Annual roots — Biennial— Perennial. — 
