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Roots of plants
Taproots are large and fleshy in appearance. They grow
deep into the ground to search for food. They are able to
store food, which is par cularly necessary for perennial
plants during periods of dormancy. They are mostly found
in plants with two seed-leaves (dicot).

Fibrous roots lie close to
the surface of the soil. They collect precipita on
before it sinks deep into the ground. They can o en be
found growing side by side with taproots: the two
types of root combine efforts to maximize efficiency.

Adven ous roots are mostly found in plants with
one seed-leaf (monocot). They develop to help the plant climb. They help to develop
modified underground stems, such as bulbs. They are common in both dicots and
monocots.

The major func ons of roots are:
1) Anchorage in soil.
2) Storage of energy resources such as the
carrot and sugar beet.
3) Absorp on of water and minerals from the
soil.
4) Conduc on of water and minerals to and
from the shoot. The roots store the food
(energy resources) of the plant. The food is
either used by the roots themselves or
digested, and the products of diges on are transported back up through the phloem
to the above-ground por ons of the plant.

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