CHAPTER IX 
THE FULL-GROWN PLANT, ETC. (Continued) 
Ill. THE ROOT 
Taproots. In the seedlings studied we found that 
the first root grows downward, no matter in what posi- 
| tion the seed is planted. This habit of 
downward growth in the first root is of 
the greatest importance to the plant to 
insure a hold in the soil where it must 
obtain a large part of its food and all its 
water. It-.also puts the root in a posi- 
tion to send out numerous lateral roots 
in search of food, and serves to bind the 
plant more firmly to the ground. In 
some plants the first root, or the one 
which grows directly downward, main- 
tains this direction, and grows to a large 
size as compared with the lateral roots. 
Such a root is called a taproot. The tap- 
Fig. 8. Taprootot TOot 1s a leader. You see it continues 
Sialic through the root system somewhat as 
the main stems of pines, spruces, etc., do through the 
Bd 

