32 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
theoretical and speculative arguments of botanists respecting 
the structure of the stem ; but in a mere general outline, such as 
this, neither space nor time will admit. 
THE ROOT. 
At the time of germination, when the stem is developed, and 
seeks the light, the descending axis, or the root, is developed 
in an opposite direction. This organ in its internal structure 
differs but little from the stem, excepting that its cellular sub¬ 
stance is frequently subject to an extraordinary development. 
Independently of its origin, the root is to be distinguished from 
the stem by its ramifications occurring irregularly, and not 
proceeding from fixed points, as the buds of branches do, but 
from any indeterminate point: the root does not produce leaf- 
buds, except it be, in some cases, what are termed adventitious 
buds; and the irregular manner in which these are produced 
afford sufficient evidence of their origin: neither has it any 
scales, leaves, or other appendages, all underground bodies on 
which such have been found being in reality stems, by what¬ 
ever name they may have been called. The only appendages 
roots have are little hollow floating bladders, such as occur in 
Utricularia; they have no stomates on their cuticle; and in 
exogens they have no pith, thus being clearly distinguished 
from the stems in this division of plants. 
The body of the root is termed a candex , whilst the minute 
ramifications are called Jibrils: these latter are little bundles of 
annular ducts, or spiral vessels in connexion with the vascular 
system of the root; and their apices, technically called spong- 
ioles, consist of extremely lax cellular tissue and mucus: these 
spongioles have the property of absorbing fluids ; and hence 
they are sometimes regarded as the mouths of plants, though 
they may more properly be regarded as being analogous to the 
lacteals of the stomach. Some roots are fleshy, and divided into 
lobes, as in Orchis and Dahlia: these have been called tubers; 
but that term is erroneously applied to them, tubers being 
underground stems, and not roots. Such fleshy roots appear to 
be intended as reservoirs of nutriment, and may be not im¬ 
properly termed tubercles. 
The office of the root is well known to be that of absorbing 
nutriment, and transmitting it to the stems and leaves; for, 
although moisture is, without doubt, absorbed also by the leaves 
