Transcript Roots

Roots
So what are roots and what do
they do?
Roots:
• Water intake
• Most of nutrient uptake
Woody Roots:
• Anchor trees
• Water intake
• Storage area
Roots:
• Anchor trees
• Move water/nutrients
from soil to trunk,
branches, and leaves
• Storage area
How do tree roots work?
• Absorb water and nutrients from the soil, store
sugar and anchor tree in ground
• Each root has thousands of root hairs making it
easier to soak up water and dissolved minerals
• Majority of the root system located in upper 12 to
18 inches of soil.
Why?
Why do tree do this?
Lateral Roots:
Roots that grow
laterally out from
the main root
Conductive Tissue
• Xylem
– carries water and dissolved minerals up from
the roots and provides support for softer
tissues (leaves)
• Phloem
– carries organic nutrients, from the leaves to
other parts
Root hair function
• They allow minerals/nutrients and water to
enter the root from the soil
• Helps increase surface area for more
absorption
What are the types of roots?
Fibrous Roots
• Short roots that spread
• Example: Grass
Tap Roots
• Long thin roots
• Can grow 15ft down
• Example: Weeds
Aerial Roots
• Roots above the ground. They are almost
always adventitious.
• Also known as Prop Roots, Stilt Roots,
and Buttress Roots
Root Tubers/Storage Roots
• Swollen portions of a root that can have
buds to produce new shoots
• When broken off, these can grow into a
new plant
Questions?
Comments?
Concerns?
Assignment
• This will be done alone, each person will turn in
their own work.
• You will make a collage of the following roots:
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Tap Roots
Fibrous Roots
Arial Roots
Root Tubers/Storage Roots
• For each root you need to have the following:
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Root name
Description of the root
Examples of plants for that root (at least 5)
Hand drawn root system
Fibrous Roots
• Short roots that spread
• Examples: Grass