
Book II. of Roots. 
i", 
59 

by Thofe that undertake the Defériptions of Plants, are accurately to 
be Noted. But the Differences, above mentioned, will ferve for ovr 
prefent Purpofe. 
g. §. THE MOTIONS of Roots are alfo divers. Sometimes 
Level, as are thofe of Hops, Ammi, Cinquefoyle; and all fuch as pro- 
perly Creep. Sometimes Perpendicular, as that of Parfnep: Which is 
different from Straightnefs; for fome Straight Roots, are Level. Both 
of them are either Shallow or Deep: fome run Level, and near the 
Turf, as Woodbind, Wild Auenomy others lower, as Dogs-Grafs. Some 
ftrike down, but a little way, as Stramonium 3 others grow deep, as 
Horfe-Radifh : Which is different from being Long; for many long 
Roots, are Level, as Hops. 
11. §. Some again Defcend, as Tulips, and other Bulbous Roots; 
which differs from growing only Downwards; in that here, the 
Head of the Root is Immoveable ; but in Defcending, the whole Root 
obteineth different Places, running deeper, time after time, into the 
Earth, Some alfo Afcend, fometimes, and in fome part; appearing 
above ground, as Turneps. 
11. §. Thefe Motioxs are alfo Compounded ; both in tefpe& of 
the feveral Parts of the Root, and of feveral Times. ‘So the main 
Reot of Primrofe, is Level; the Strings are Perpendiculat, The 
Roots of moft Seedlings grow Downward and Upward, or fhoot out 
in length at both Ends, at the fame time. Thofe of Biftort, Iris; 
and fome others, grow, in part, both Downward and Upward at fe- 
veral times: Whence it is, that B#ffort is Crooked, with fome refem- 
blance to an S, according to its Name ; And that fome Parts of Iris: 
Root appear oftentimes above the ground. 
12. §. There is alfo another Asotion, in fome Roots, not heeded 5 
-and that is Contortion : whereby, without being moved. out of their 
Place, they are Writhed or Twifted 5 asa piece of Cloath is, when 
the Water is wrung out of its as in Garduus, Sonchns, and others : 
whether alwaysI cannot fay. This Mation cannot be noted, with- 
out ftripping off the Bargue; whereby the Veféls may be feen, fome- 
times, to make two or three Circumvolutions. This Motioz feems to 
be governed by the winding of the Stalk; and therefore to begin at 
the Head, and terminate at the Poynt or lower end of the Root, which 
is immoveable. 
13. §. BUT ABOVE all the Motions of Roots; not obferved; 
the moft remarkable is that of DESCENT. Which, although it hath 
been noted, by fome Botanicks, of Bulbows Roots 5 yet of thefe only : 
Whereasit is the Property, ofa great many more; and thofe, of very 
different Kinds 5 probably,of the far greater number of Perennial Roots 
of Herbs as of Arum, Rape-Crowfoot, Valerian, Brownwort, Bearf: 
foot, Tanfj, Lychuis, Sampier, Primrofe, Ammi, Avens ; Wood-forrel, 
Jris, and others. Of all which Plants, it is very obfervable, That 
their Root, is annually renewed, or repaired, out of the Truvk or Stalk 
it felf That istofay, The Bafis of the Stalk continually, and by 
infenfible Degrees, de(cending. below the furface of the Earth, and 
hiding it felf therein 5 isthus, both in Nature, Place;and Office chang 
ed into a true Root: Which Root, by the continuance of the. faid 
© 2 Motion 

































































