Trees Have Many More Types of Root than You Thought

Created By RISC | 8 hours ago

Last modified date : 8 hours ago

You know that trees have taproots, lateral roots branching from them, and fibrous roots… But do you know about all the others, including some you mightn’t realize are roots?

Taproots and lateral roots are among the best-known types of root. They anchor plants to the soil and absorb water and nutrients that go to trunks for growth. But trees also develop adventitious roots for challenging environments where survival can be tough. These specialized roots come in many fascinating forms:

Prop roots develop from the trunk under stressful conditions, such as flooding or soft soil. They provide extra support so the tree stays upright. These roots often appear as woody structures growing from the stem. A classic example is in mangroves in coastal wetlands.

Storage roots store nutrients within their structure and have diverse shapes, such as conical, fusiform, napiform (heart-shaped), and tuberous. Plants with storage roots include cassava, carrots, and beets, though we may not recognize them as roots at first glance.

Aerial roots grow above the ground and serve as anchors on various surfaces, such as those in climbing plants. These roots can contain chloroplasts capable of photosynthesis, giving them a distinct green appearance, as seen in orchid aerial roots.

Air roots play a role in gas exchange and oxygen transport to submerged roots in the soil. For example, pneumatophores of the white mangrove rise above the ground to access oxygen in waterlogged environments, where roots buried in soil lack adequate air.

Parasitic roots penetrate the roots of other plants to extract nutrients, acting as their primary food source. These roots often harm the host plant, stunting its growth and, in severe cases, causing it to wither and die.

Buttress roots are an adaptation of certain trees for environments such as near water bodies or in shallow soils. When taproots cannot penetrate deep into the ground, buttress roots spread out from the base of the trunk, forming large, flat structures to provide stability and support.

Story by: Nakarin Phongphaew, Intern from Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University and Thanawat Jinjarak, senior researcher Environmental Department Urban Environmental & Biodiversity Engineer, RISC