Higher plants differ from lower ones in that their body is clearly differentiated into organs. They are more highly organized, have complex conductive systems and tissues. There is no limit to their diversity.
Adapting to different living conditions, they were forced to form unusual structures in their structure. Change, modernize and adapt some parts of the body to get a better chance of a comfortable existence. Most of all this was reflected in the roots of plants.
Organs of higher plants
All of them can be divided into two groups:
The first should include the stem, leaves, flower and fruit. The second - the root system with all its constituent elements. At first glance, it seems erroneous that there are very few of them, because this is just the root. Plant organs are rather complex organized structures, so the external simplicity is deceiving. This applies to all parts of the body.
Underground organ root: types of roots
The roots of plants can be different both in color and in shape, length, branching. In total, three main varieties of root types can be distinguished. The name of the root species is as follows.
- Chief . This is the main axial root that goes deepest underground. As a rule, it is thicker than the rest and longer. It takes its origin from the germinal root. It contains the main conductive and suction zones through which substances are transported into the stem of the plant, and from the latter are carried throughout the body.
- Adverbial clauses . These structures depart directly from the main root and branch to the sides, increasing the total mass of the entire system. Their function, as well as the main one, is to absorb substances and keep the plant in the ground.
- Side . These elements are thin hairy roots extending from the accessory structures. Their thickness is sometimes only one to two millimeters. Different types of roots are unequal in number, but it is the lateral ones in the total mass that dominate in this indicator.
Thus, terrestrial plants are characterized by three types of roots, which in a general organic combination form entire systems.
Types of Root Systems
What are the types of roots, we found out. Now it remains to deal with the issue of systems formed by them. There are two main types.
- The core . Monocotyledonous plants (cereals, lily, palm, and others) are characteristic of the class. The main distinguishing feature: the main root is pronounced and weakly - the subordinate and lateral.
- Fibrous . Characteristic for the class Dicotyledonous plants (rosaceae, cruciferous, legumes, and so on). The peculiarity that the root has: the types of roots are expressed to the same degree. There is no main thing, since the subordinate and lateral branches suppress it, and a general strongly rugged structure is formed.
More root systems are not known.
Varieties of altered structures
We examined what types of roots are. But there are also their altered forms. That is, when the main, lateral and subordinate roots are converted into a slightly different form, helping the plant to adapt to certain living conditions.
The types of altered roots are as follows:
- roots;
- leads;
- stilted;
- root tubers;
- air;
- root cones;
- retractable;
- props
- respiratory
- sucker roots.
In some tropical species, some highly specific transformations of the root system are distinguished. We will consider the most interesting and common options.
Aerial roots
Plants with aerial roots are inhabitants of places where the soil is poor in moisture and oxygen. It can be saline land or excessively acidic (alkaline). Therefore, such individuals are categorically lacking oxygen. To capture and absorb it additionally, they adapted as follows.
Their lateral roots rise above the ground and in this way absorb moisture and oxygen directly from the surrounding air. Plants with modified roots look very unusual, sometimes even frightening. If there are too many aerial roots, then the tree looks very voluminous, bushy and somehow a bit fabulous.
In ancient times, plants with similar characteristics were attributed with various magical properties, because they looked really mystical. Representatives can be called the following types:
- orchids, including decorative indoor plants;
- some types of ficuses ;
- metrosiderosa;
- thickets of mangrove trees ;
- creepers;
- monstera and others.
Stilted roots
Obviously, the support is the main function that the root performs. Types of roots, which are altered appendages of the basic structures, can also serve for this purpose. A typical example is stilted roots. They are formed in plants growing:
- in dense and viscous silt;
- coastal zones (bands) where they are immersed in water;
- in sandy ground.
They are very important, because their growth begins precisely from the stem. In this way, the body becomes stronger in the earth. Numerous hard and durable stilted appendages in general give the plant stability and promote firm rooting.
Examples of organisms that are characterized by similar structures can be cited as follows:
- maize;
- mangroves;
- Pandanus
- Malay tree;
- some types of palm trees;
- Avicenna;
- nipa;
- rhizophore;
- cork tree and others.
In general, plants with similar roots look like an organism, as if standing on stilts. Sometimes they look like a tent, in other cases, it simply creates the impression of a multifaceted powerful trunk.
Props
There are many amazing things that biology tells us about. The types of roots in some plants are so ridiculous and unrealistic that it is difficult to imagine their naturalness.
For example, there are varieties of these organs, such as columnar, or props. Their main purpose is to provide the plant with not only additional support and stability, but also air power. Like air, they are also able to fix atmospheric oxygen from the air.
Thus, it turns out that columnar modifications are a combination of aerial and stilted roots. Plants that are characterized by such structures are:
- ficus elastic;
- banyan trees;
- some tropical trees.
The peculiarities of the formation of such roots are that they arise from horizontal branches and then grow down to the ground. Having reached it, they take root and become a reliable additional support. And since they are above the ground, then the second function - oxygen absorption - is performed successfully.
Roots
This modification is known to everyone, because it is we who grow it in summer cottages. Plants with such structures have the most juicy and nutritious root. The types of roots of such a change can be as follows:
Root tubers are formed from subordinate roots and lateral. They accumulate a large amount of nutrients, which allows the plant to accelerate the growing season and feel more protected when adverse conditions occur. Examples of plants:
- artichoke;
- nasturtium;
- potatoes;
- earth pear;
- begonia;
- caladium;
- diaskarea;
- water lily and others.
Root crops, although they contain the word "fruit" in the name, they have nothing to do with these organs. This is the thickened main root of the plant, in which an accumulation of a large mass of nutrients, pigments, vitamins and so on occurs.
Examples of such plants are the most popular:
- celery;
- carrot;
- beet;
- parsley;
- chicory;
- radish;
- parsnip and others.
These crops are one of the most sought after crop plants. They are prepared, used for the preparation of medicines, vitamins are obtained from them.
What are the functions of the root of the plant?
The answer to this question has already been raised during the article. It remains only to summarize and summarize all that has been said to clearly indicate the answer to the question: "What functions does the plant root perform?"
- Anchor, or anchoring.
- The implementation of the absorption and transport of mineral compounds and water.
- Modifications are used to fix and store nutrients.
- The root is a vegetative organ of reproduction.
- In it, the formation of vitamins, hormones, pigments.
- The root enters into a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, fungi.
Specific modifications of the roots serve for different functional devices. We already spoke about them when considering each specific example.