Tell a tap root from a fibrous root by its shape, and know which plants have which.
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The chapter's Do You Know box on roots and soil conservation
The two types of root, their shapes, and the plants that have each
Roots are of two types: tap roots and fibrous roots. These two categories can be identified by looking at how they grow beneath the soil.
The chapter's two root illustrations, tap on the left and fibrous on the right
Compare how the two types grow in the soil: one main anchor versus a spreading network.
Three questions from the chapter's exercises on the two root types
Which of the following plants has a tap root?
The chapter's activity comparing the roots of grass and a mustard plant
Does it have one main root or a bundle?
Notice if there is a primary thick root.
Connect your observations to the root types.