82 
THE FIRST BOOK OF BOTANY. 
were so named to distinguish them from flowers, the 
reproductive organs of plants. 
The first question about the roots of a plant is, 
Are they fibrous (like Fig. 124), or has the plant a 
tap-root ? 
A tap-root is a continuation of the stem down¬ 
ward, which may branch, as seen in Fig. 123, or bear 
fibers, or be nearly smooth, as in Figs. 125, 126, 127. 
Fig. 125. 
Conical Root. 
Fig. 126. 
Fusiform Root. 
Fig. 127. 
Napiform Root. 
When there is no such downward growth from 
the stem, but in its place you find a mass of fibers 
like Fig. 124, you describe the plant as having fibrous 
roots. 
Some of the different shapes of roots have spe¬ 
cial names, which are commonly used in describing 
plants. The chief forms of tap-root are— 
Con'ical (Fig. 125).—Where the root is seen to be 
cone-shaped. 
