The roots of a plant are its vegetative organs that are underground and conduct water and, accordingly, minerals to the rest, terrestrial, plant organs - stems, leaves, flowers and fruits. But the main function of the root is still to fix the plant in the ground.
On the distinctive features of root systems
Common in different root systems is that the root is always divided into main, lateral and adnexal. The main root, the root of the first order, always grows from the seed, it is he who is most powerfully developed and always grows vertically downwards.
Lateral roots depart from it and are called roots of the second order. They can branch, and adventitious roots, called third-order roots, depart from them. They (adventitious roots) never grow on the main, but in some plant species they can grow on stems and leaves.
This whole set of roots is called the root system. And there are only two types of root systems - rod and fibrous. And our main question concerns how the taproot and fibrous root systems differ.
The tap root system is characterized by the presence of a pronounced main root, while the fibrous root system is formed from adventitious and lateral roots, and its main root is not expressed and does not stand out from the total mass.
In order to better understand how the tap root system differs from the fibrous one, we propose to consider a visual diagram of the structure of one and the second systems.
Such plants as roses, peas, buckwheat, valerian, carrots, maple, birch, currants, watermelon have a tap root system. The urinary root system is found in wheat, oats, barley, onions and garlic, lilies, gladiolus and others.
Modified shoots underground
Many plants underground, in addition to the roots, have so-called modified shoots. These are rhizomes, stolons, bulbs and tubers.
Rhizomes grow mostly parallel to the soil surface, they are needed for vegetative propagation and storage. Outwardly, the rhizome looks like a root, but in its internal structure it has fundamental differences. Sometimes such shoots can come out of the ground and form a regular shoot with leaves.
Underground shoots are called stolons, at the end of which bulbs, tubers and rosette shoots are formed.
A bulb is a modified shoot, the storage function of which is carried out by fleshy leaves, and adventitious roots extend from a flat bottom below.
A tuber is a thickened shoot with axillary buds that performs the function of storage and reproduction.
- Tap root system - a root system in which the main root is well developed compared to lateral roots. The main root has the shape of a rod, hence the name for such a root system - rod.
The main root can penetrate to a considerable depth, so the tap root system is typical for plants that are in soils where deep groundwater occurs (for example, in sandy soils).
Many representatives of dicotyledonous plants, most species of trees and shrubs, as well as many herbaceous plants have this type of root systems.
Related concepts
Related concepts (continued)
Ferns, or ferns, (lat. Polypodióphyta) - a department of vascular plants, which includes both modern ferns and one of the oldest higher plants that appeared about 405 million years ago in the Devonian period of the Paleozoic era. Giant plants from the group of tree ferns largely determined the appearance of the planet at the end of the Paleozoic - the beginning of the Mesozoic era.
Fibrous root system - a root system represented mainly by adventitious roots, in which the main root is not distinguished.
Dicotyledons (outdated options: dicotyledonous, dicotyledonous) (lat. Dicotylédones), or Magnoliopsida (lat. Magnoliópsida) - a class of angiosperms in which the seed embryo has two lateral opposite cotyledons.
Peristoschetinnik purple, or Elephant grass (lat. Pennisetum purpureum) is a perennial herb, a species of the genus Pennisetum (Pennisetum) of the Grass family (Poaceae). A widespread fodder crop in tropical and subtropical countries.
Conifers (lat. Pinóphyta or Coníferae) is one of the 13-14 divisions of the plant kingdom, which includes vascular plants whose seeds develop in cones. All modern views- woody plants, the vast majority are trees, although there are also shrubs. Typical representatives are cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, spruce, pine, sequoia, yew, kauri and araucaria. Coniferous plants grow wild in almost all parts of the world. Often they dominate other plants...
Hemp kutra, or hemp kutra (lat. Apócynum cannábinum) is a perennial herb of the Kutrov family (Apocynaceae). The birthplace of the plant is the southern regions North America. It grows in mountains up to 2000 meters above sea level.
Thistle field, or Pink thistle (lat. Cirsium arvense) is a species of perennial herbaceous plants from the genus Bodyak of the family Asteraceae, or Compositae (Asteraceae).
Wild strawberry, or common strawberry (when sometimes translated: Wild strawberry, European strawberry; cultivars: Alpine strawberry) (lat. Fragária vésca) - a plant species of the genus Strawberry of the Pink family.
Phragmipedium longifolium or Phragmipedium longifolium (lat. Phragmipedium longifolium) is a species of perennial herbaceous plants of the Orchid family.
Eastern Sverbiga (lat. Búnias orientalis) is a perennial (rarely biennial) herbaceous plant, a species of the genus Sverbiga (Bunias) of the Cabbage or Cruciferous (Brassicaceae) family. A large plant up to a meter or more high, with lower leaves spear-shaped at the base, bright yellow flowers collected in an apical panicle and stems and fruits covered with dark warts.
Nephrolepis (lat. Nephrolépis) is a genus of ferns of the monotypic family Nephrolepidaceae, but in some classifications it is included in the Lomariopsis or Davallia families.
Semi-shrub (lat. Suffrutículus) is one of the life forms (biomorph) of plants. In the system of classification of life forms of plants by Raunkier, shrubs belong to one of four subtypes of the Hamefita type.
Cotyledon, or cotyledon, or germinal leaves, or embryonic leaves - (lat. cotylédon, cotyledónis, from other Greek kοτυληδών - “boiler”, “cauldron”, “cup”, “bowl”) - part of the embryo in the seed of a plant . When germinating, the cotyledons become the first embryonic leaves of the seedling. The number of cotyledons is one of characteristic features used by botanists to classify flowering plants (angiosperms). Plants with one cotyledon are called monocots and belong to the class Liliopsida ...
Fragrant Shenorchis (lat. Schoenorchis fragrans) is a species of perennial herbaceous plants of the Orchid family, or Orchidaceae (Orchidaceae).
Ito hybrids, or Itoh peonies (Itoh Hybrid Group, or Itoh Group, or Itoh hybrids, or Intersectional Hybrids, or I-Hybrids) - a group of varieties created by crossing tree-like and herbaceous peonies.
Caragana (lat. Caragána) is a genus of deciduous shrubs or small trees of the legume family (Fabaceae). Includes at least 90 species.
Eichhornia diversifolia (lat. Eichhornia diversifolia) is a herbaceous aquatic plant of the genus Eichornia of the Pontederiaceae family.
Urut, or Peristolistnik or Vodoperitsa (lat. Myriophýllum) is a genus of herbaceous plants of the family Slanoyagodnikovye (Haloragaceae).
Japanese slipper (lat. Cypripedium japonicum) is a species of herbaceous plants of the section Flabellinervia of the genus Cypripedium of the Orchid family.
Tradescantia sillamontana (lat. Tradescantia sillamontana) is a species of perennial evergreen herbaceous plants from the genus Tradescantia. This species is one of the most succulent and xerophytic, but at the same time one of the most decorative and exotic species of Tradescantia. Its range is the arid regions of northern Mexico.
Oval hiding place, or Oval hiding place (lat. Listéra ováta) - a herbaceous plant; species of the genus Cache (Listera) of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae).
Shade-tolerant plants, scioheliophytes (from other Greek σκιά - shadow + Ἥλιος - sun + φυτόν - plant) in plant ecology - plants tolerant to shading, growing mainly in shady habitats (unlike light-loving plants, heliophytes), but also well developed and in open areas with more or less direct sunlight (unlike shade-loving plants, sciophytes). Shade-tolerant plants are considered in plant ecology as an intermediate ...
Young spherical (lat. Sempervivum globiferum, syn. Sedum globiferum) is a species of herbaceous plants from the Crassula family. Different authors include this species in different genera - Young (Sempervivum), Stonecrop (Sedum), Borodnik (Jovibarba). According to The Plant List database, the species belongs to the genus Sempervivum and its correct name is Sempervivum globiferum L..
Ehmeya (lat. Aechmea) is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae), common in Central America and South America.
Pneumatophores (or pneumatophores) are above-ground, upward-growing respiratory roots of some woody plants, developing from underground roots or rhizomes. Their main function is to supply oxygen to the underground parts of plants growing in marshy soil and in the tidal zone of sea coasts. The possibility of supplying air to the underground parts is ensured by their anatomical structure - a thin cortex, numerous lenticels, a well-developed system of air-bearing intercellular spaces - aerenchyma ...
Kachim, or Gypsophila, or Gypsophila (lat. Gypsóphila) is a genus of plants from the Clove family (Caryophyllaceae). Perennial or annual, often strongly branched herbs, rarely small shrubs.
Plaunok, or Selaginella (lat. Selaginella) is the only genus of herbaceous spore plants from the Plaunkov family, or Selaginellaceae, Lycopodiophyta department.
Leaf (plural leaves, collect. foliage; lat. folium, Greek φύλλον) - in botany, the external organ of a plant, the main functions of which are photosynthesis, gas exchange and transpiration. For this purpose, the leaf usually has a lamellar structure in order to give the cells containing the specialized pigment chlorophyll in the chloroplasts access to sunlight. The leaf is also the organ of respiration, evaporation and guttation (excretion of water droplets) of the plant. Leaves can retain water and nutrients...
Euphorbia false spherical (lat. Euphórbia pseudoglobosa) is a perennial succulent dwarf shrub; species of the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbia) of the Euphorbia family (Euphorbiaceae).
White mar, or common mar (lat. Chenopódium álbum) is a fast-growing annual herbaceous plant, a species of the genus Mar (Chenopodium) of the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) (previously the genus belonged to the Marev family).
Large shaker (lat. Briza maxima) is an annual herbaceous plant, a species of the genus Briza of the Grass family, or Bluegrass (Poaceae). It differs from other species of the genus in much larger spikelets. It comes from the Mediterranean, as an alien is found in many countries.
Bengal ficus (lat. Fícus benghalénsis) is a tree of the Mulberry family that grows in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Growing, it is able to turn into a large tree, occupying several hectares, having a crown circumference 610 meters long.
Being underground and remaining absolutely invisible, the root forms entire systems that are directly dependent on the habitat. If necessary, the type can be modified to provide the plant with everything necessary for growth and development.
Root and its meaning
The root is the underground part of the plant. It securely holds the shoot in the ground. The length of the trunk of some trees can be several tens of meters, but even strong gusts of wind are not terrible.
The main function of the root is to absorb and transport water with nutrients dissolved in it. This is the only way to get the required amount of moisture into the plant.
Root types
According to the structural features, three types of roots are distinguished.
The main root of a plant is always one. In gymnosperms and angiosperms, it develops from the germinal root of the seed. It has lateral roots. They increase the absorbent surface area, allowing the plant to absorb the most water.
There are a lot of them directly from the shoot, they grow in a bunch. All types of roots have the same traits internal structure. This element of the plant consists of forming a root cap, which protects the educational cells of the division zone from death. The elongation zone also consists of young, constantly dividing cells. Elements of conductive tissue and mechanical are in the zone of absorption and conduction. They make up the bulk of any kind of roots.
To provide the plant with the necessary amount of water, only one root is not enough for it. Therefore, different ones are combined, forming systems.
Rod and fibrous root system
The fibrous system is represented by adventitious roots. They are typical for representatives of the class Monocots - Lily and Onion. Anyone who has tried to pull a wheat shoot out of the ground knows that this is quite difficult to do. The bundle of adventitious roots grows strongly, occupies a large area, providing the plant with the necessary amount of nutrients. Bulbs of garlic or leeks, being also have developed adventitious roots, combined in
Consider the following type. The tap root system consists of two types of roots: main and lateral. The only main root is the stem and explains the name of this plant organ. It can penetrate deep into the soil, not only reliably holding its owner, but also extracting scarce moisture from the lower layers of the soil. A few tens of meters is not an obstacle for him.
The tap root system is characteristic of most angiosperms, since it is universal. The main root gets water from the depth, the lateral ones - from the topsoil.
Advantages
The tap root system is typical for plants growing in conditions of moisture deficiency. If there is no rain, the upper layers of the soil are dry, water can only be obtained deep from the ground. This function is performed by the main root. The tap root system is sometimes longer than the shoot itself. For example, a camel thorn about 30 cm high has a root more than 20 m long.
Lateral roots are also important. They increase the suction surface, sometimes occupying a significant area.
Which plants do not have a tap root system? Those that live in conditions of excessive moisture. Such plants simply do not need to get water from the depths. However, the tap root system significantly loses to the fibrous root system in terms of the total length of the roots.
Root modifications
The tap root system, the structure of which fully corresponds to the functions performed, is sometimes modified. The well-known carrot roots are thickened main roots. They store water and nutrients that allow plants to survive adverse conditions. environment. Such a modified tap root system is also characteristic of beets, radishes, radishes, and parsley.
Root crops are especially common in perennial and biennial plants. So, having sown carrot seeds in the spring, you can already get a harvest in the fall. But if the plant is left in the ground for the winter, then in the spring it will sprout again and give seeds. AT cold winter carrots survive due to the thickened main root - the root crop. It allows you to hold out on stocks until the onset of heat.
The type of plant root system depends on the conditions in which it grows, and character traits buildings provide life processes and increase the chances of survival in any climate and with any available amount of moisture and nutrients.
TAPROOT
TAPROOT, the first ROOT of the plant that develops from the PRIMARY ROOT. The taproot grows straight down and remains the main root of the plant, spreading lateral roots to expand the spread of the root system. In biennial plants, whose leaves and stems usually die off in the first winter, the root is kept alive underground, ready to sprout new leaves on next year. In some vegetable crops (such as beets, carrots and parsnips), the taproot develops into a fleshy organ - a root crop in which STARCH accumulates. These roots are edible for both animals and humans.
Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary.
See what "ROOT ROOT" is in other dictionaries:
The main main part of the root system of many plants, which is a direct continuation of the stem in the ground and develops from the original root of the seed germ. In some plants, as, for example, in oaks, the taproot or main root ... ...
A postmodern metaphor that captures the presumption of axiologically colored perception of depth, characteristic of classical metaphysics, as a symbol of the location of the essence and the source of the phenomenon rooted in it, which is associated with the interpretation ... ... History of Philosophy: Encyclopedia
See beginning, reason, origin uproot, take root... Dictionary of Russian synonyms and expressions similar in meaning. under. ed. N. Abramova, M .: Russian dictionaries, 1999. root, beginning, reason, origin; radical; spine, stem, ... ... Synonym dictionary
This term has other meanings, see Root (meanings) ... Wikipedia
Axial root, underground vegetative organ of higher plants, with unlimited growth in length and positive geotropism. The root fixes the plant in the soil and ensures the absorption and conduction of water with dissolved ... ... Wikipedia
Axial root, underground vegetative organ of higher plants, with unlimited growth in length and positive geotropism. The root fixes the plant in the soil and ensures the absorption and conduction of water with dissolved ... ... Wikipedia
Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
- (Radix). This part in most plants is expressed very clearly and differs well from the rest, but there are also many that are either completely devoid of K. or represent transitions to the stem and generally have non-typical K. Not to mention the lower, ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
pivotal- see rod; a / i, o / e. The tap root of a shrub. Rod / th question. Rod / th transformer (with rod) Mixture (used in the manufacture of rods) ... Dictionary of many expressions
Root The part of a plant that anchors itself in the soil and obtains water and nutrients. It is the most important organ of most representatives of the plant kingdom. The roots are a kind of basis for the vegetative mass and sometimes make up a large part of it. The root system can reach a solid size, fancifully branch out and go far deep into the earth.
The root performs the function of accumulating nutrients in itself and adverse conditions it often acts as a kind of buffer that allows you to save the vitality of the plant, it is he who makes it possible to start new round life in the event that the above-ground part is significantly damaged. In this way, many perennials hibernate, the green mass of which dies off when frost sets in, but recovers from the root with the advent of spring.
Types of root system
Each plant in the course of its life and evolution had to adapt to a variety of environmental conditions, whether it be high humidity, soil features, negative temperatures, strong winds etc. In addition, the soil could have an excess or deficiency of nutrients, the depth of their occurrence in the substrate layers varied. All this is essentially influenced the shape of the root system.
Despite the fact that there are many root systems, and even within one species one can find significant differences in structure, there are two main types: pivotal and fibrous. Sometimes in such a classification, a mixed-type root system is also mentioned, but it, as a rule, is a variation of the tap variety with a large number of additional processes.
Rod
The rod type is characterized by the presence of one pronounced thickened root in the plant, which goes to a great depth. The main root is much more developed than the rest and is easy to identify among other roots that are smaller in size.
The longest taproots can be found in some plants growing in the desert, for example, in camel thorn. Its root can go as deep as 20 meters.
It is also characteristic of many well-known horticultural crops: vegetables, trees and shrubs. The tap root system includes many vegetables with a thickened root, the so-called root crop, often used in cooking. For example:
- carrot;
- parsley;
- parsnip;
- radish;
- beet;
- radish;
- celery.
With the help of a tap root system, most deciduous and fruit trees. These are the well-known oak, ash, hawthorn, elm, mountain ash and many others. This also includes a number of shrubs and garden flowers, such as tree-like peony, lupine, decorative and vegetable sunflower, rose, dog rose. These garden regulars tolerate heat and drought relatively easily.
An interesting fact is that under the influence of living conditions, the root system can change its structure. So, growing on moist soils, the plant tends to develop more surface-type roots, since it does not need to extract water from a great depth. While developing in a dry area, the plant will tend to go as deep as possible with its roots trying to get moisture. A striking example of such variability is pine.
fibrous
It has the shape of a washcloth, it is well branched and is represented by a large number of lateral processes. As a rule, it is formed in plants that come from humid regions and did not have to wade to great depths in search of moisture and other necessary substances. All seedlings at the beginning of their development form the main core and only then acquire lateral additional processes.
Superficial roots of a fibrous or mixed type have:
- bird cherry;
- irga;
- Birch;
- plum;
- cherry.
Some of these trees, due to their ability to draw large amounts of water from the surface layers of the soil, are used as dehumidifiers for flooded lands. But on dry soils, garden plants of this type require increased attention, they can suffer greatly during a period of prolonged lack of rain.
Understanding the structure of the underground part of the plant makes it possible to correctly place different crops on the site, while avoiding competition. certain types, as well as provide each instance with proper watering and care. It should be borne in mind that crops with a different nature of root formation, planted side by side, often willingly form a symbiosis and do not interfere with each other's development, although they may require different irrigation and lighting regimes.
Video
You will learn about the types of root system from this video.
