Question

Is it possible for you to find out whether a plant has taproot or fibrous roots by looking at the impression of its leaf on a sheet of paper?

Answer 1

Yes, we can tell the type of venation and thus the root system by looking at the impression by:

1. The root of a plant with parallel venation is a fibrous root.
2. The root is a tap root if the plant has reticulate venation.

Taproot:

1. These are the large, central, and dominant roots that grow deep into the soil from the seed's radicle.
2. Many other secondary roots sprout from the taproot, which grows mostly laterally.
3. Carrot, beet, sugarbeet, and many other dicot plants contain these.

Fibrous roots:

1. Fibrous roots are those that grow from the stem's base rather than the seed's radicle.
2. They are found in monocots, ferns, and plants that have parallel venation.
3. And these roots reach almost to the ground's surface.
4. For instance, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, lilies, corn, and so on.