flora of our planet is extremely diverse.Sometimes flora are striking for its incredible devices that form them to adapt to environmental conditions.Some of them strikes an incredibly bright and beautiful colors, others - fragrant and juicy fruits, the third surprise unusual leaves.
There are among them some who had to form a special type of roots.As is known, the body - almost the most important and significant in plant nutrition.Here we look at one such example of fine, attention-grabbing and very original types of roots.
Vegetative plant organs
In general, giving the characteristic of any terrestrial multicellular plants, stands out in its structure several basic structural parts.
- aerial part.It consists of flight, including stem, leaves and flowers (later fruits).
- underground part.Submitted by root with all the associated structural parts.
All of the organs of a plant called autonomic, ie not to participate in sexual reproduction.The root is one of the most important of these parts of the body as performing is very different, but vital for the plant functions.There are different types of root systems, as well as different types of roots themselves (respiratory roots, props, slinging, and so on).
types of root systems
the entire root system of the plant can be separated into its constituent components.Thus, the release:
- main root - the one that is formed from the apical meristem and keeps it active throughout their lives (ie, a root has unlimited growth).It is characterized by positive geotropism - the ability to target the growth toward the center of the Earth down.
- Adventitious roots - those that are formed in different parts of the plant, the old roots, leaves, stems, and so on.Example: root-props, aerial roots of epiphytic plants and others.
- side - those which are branched in a large or small amount of the main and paranasal forming together with them a single root system of a particular type.
Due to the severity of a particular type in the root system, they decided to allocate two basic types.
- tap root system - when the most marked is the central root, and lateral and subordinate only addition (most often the representatives of the class of bipartite).
- fibrous - expressed when there is no central spine.All together - the main, lateral and adventitious - form a single bundle of filaments silnovetvyaschiysya.More common in monocots.
very great interest the various modifications of the root.One of them are just the roots, props, functions, and examples of which are discussed further.
What are the roots-backup?This highly specialized
adventitious roots that form on the stem of the plant.Thus, the roots-props - this is not the main and subordinate structure.They are also characterized by a positive geotropism, as well as for the main root.
Accepted plants with such devices, called banyan.They are considered to be in their home country (India, Asia, tropical countries) is very important and even sacred.Outwardly very unusual in diameter all the roots together can reach several tens or even hundreds of meters.There are several reasons that are formed such root-props.Functions of significant plant.
functions such roots
- additional transport of water and minerals.
- support function for better fixation and strengthen plants in soil.
- capture a vast area of growth through all of adventitious rooting structures.
Roots-backup function perform their good faith.Plants having such features, it is very unusual and impressive look and take in the tropical forests rather extensive space.
Roots-props: Examples of plants in the tropics
bulk plant of this kind refers to the Ficus.The country of habitat - India, where everything is considered sacred banyan and undergo rigorous safeguards and care on the part of man.
For example, the Indian fig tree, whose Latin name Ficus elastika, in the nature of a large high tree (up to 30 m) with large dark green glossy leaves beautiful oval.Its roots-backup functions perform all the same: support in the rooting, capture territory and to obtain high power.This plant can grow to the size of a small grove.
Room analogue
It has long been a kind of bedroom Ficus elastika.It is a small potted plant that does not bloom, is valued for the beauty of its lush, glossy leaves and large.For him, all the conditions have been created.This implies that in the home is not required to carry out their roots-backup features.And plants of this type simply do not form.
Ficus bengalensis (Ficus Bengali)
This representative of this group of plants is a long-lived tree.The oldest representative has 3000 years of existence!This is a very big high tree, which formed during the life of the roots-props.Their function consists in the absorption of air, moisture and subsequent conversion to rooting with these supporting pillars.
This species of ficus can form hundreds of adventitious roots of life that allows it to occupy an area of 2 hectares.Its leaves are relatively small, up to 20 cm in length.The fruit - a favorite treat of birds and some monkeys.
People learned how to grow the plant for decorative purposes, so in the temperate zone it can also be found in the form of reduced many times potting up.
religious ficus (Ficus religiosa)
There is another kind of ficus, forming the roots-props.Examples of such trees can be seen in their natural habitat - in India and Southeast Asia.All kinds of religious ficus are a valuable material for the study and are protected in nature reserves and parks the locals.
number of roots, which can form one such tree, about 300. All of them take root and form like gazebos or grove in which a person can easily roam.Seeds and fruit of the tree - a favorite treat animals and birds.A resin almost all figs that grow in tropical countries, is a valuable material for humans.It is called shellac.
Room kind of this plant is widely distributed in the temperate zone.It is appreciated for the beautiful leaves, unpretentious in the care and longevity.
delitsioza Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
There is also the unusual flora, which naturally formed the roots-props.Examples of plants: monstera, as well as all the others, except for the above, the kinds of figs.It is noteworthy that the first monstera settle on other trees as epiphytes such as vines.But eventually form their own long roots that grow down to the ground, take root, and allow her to feel more confident and loose.
surprising feature Monster delitsiozy, in addition to these roots is the ability to get rid of excess moisture using water stomata.This "weeping plant" after the rain poured streams of excess moisture through the tips of the leaves.
There are cultivated varieties such monstera.It is grown in pots and are very fond of beautiful carved leaves and unpretentiousness.
Mangroves
These forests are characterized by the formation of off-shoring, but first aerial roots.That they eventually turn into stilted and support to allow mangroves to grow in these unusual and difficult conditions - a gentle and flat shores of the oceans and rivers of salt.
In this case, not the usual perform root-backup function, and greater use of their plants to absorb the air, rather than as a support.But over time, and this feature is also implemented in full.The fact that the plants, include many different mangroves bushes and trees.Together they form a common forest, called the mangrove.And it is there in order to survive, the plants form a device such as an unusual modifications roots.It is difficult for life to be partly salty ocean water.This leads to a lack of air, water, an excess minerals.Additional roots allow mangroves to resolve these problems peacefully and to survive, pleasing riot of lush greenery and an unusual appearance.
