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external plant parts
roots | stems | buds | leaves | flowers | fruit | seeds

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Types of roots

There are two major types of roots: primary and lateral. A primary root originates at the lower end of a seedling's embryo. If the primary root continues to elongate downward, becomes the central feature of the root system, and has limited secondary branching, it is called a taproot (Figure 4). Hickory and pecan trees, as well as carrots, have taproots.

A lateral, or secondary, root is a side or branch root that arises from another root. If the primary root ceases to elongate, and numerous lateral roots develop, a fibrous root system is formed. These lateral roots branch repeatedly to form the network of feeding roots found on most plants.

Some plants, such as grasses, naturally produce a fibrous root system. In other cases, severing a plant's taproot by undercutting it can encourage the plant to produce a fibrous root system. Nurseries use this technique with trees that naturally produce a taproot because trees with a compact, fibrous root system are transplanted more successfully.