OF THE ROOT, 
35 
Fig. 
Fig. 13. 
branches of a tree ; 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 
by being buried in fhe soil may 
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 w r hich the plant derives from the earth. Nature furnishes 
this nourishment in the moisture, and various salts, which are con¬ 
tained in the soil. 
2d. Fibrous Root , (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 will live and flourish 
in a soil too dry and barren to produce other 
vegetation, is owing to the abundance of the 
fibres, which absorb all the nourishment that the 
ground affords. 
' 3d. Spindle Root , (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 be 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 off; 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,f 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. 
Fig. 14. 
'/ 
* Atropa mandragora. The word mandrake is said to be derived from the German 
Mandragen , resembling man. 
t Scabiosa sue visa, or a kind of Scabious. 
Fibrous roots:—Spindle root—Importance of radicles—Forked spindle root—-Pre- 
morse root. 
/ 
