AL345041_mh4xm7.jpg | Hydrophytes tend to have poorly developed or completely absent root systems and in some species of Ceratophyllum the root hairs have completely disappeared. Due to the excess of water, extensive root systems are not required, they aren’t needed for the absorption of water because water can enter into the leaves via osmosis (Hydrophytes). Therefore root hairs are not needed to increase surface area for diffusion. This is because minerals are dissolved in the area encompassing the plant and can enter via diffusion to reach many of the plant’s cells (Hydrophytes). Roots are only important for anchorage if the plant is exposed to strong currents or tides, for example the Eel Grass has a large root system to combat tides, currents and waves (Roberts 2011). The Water Lily in the diagram, has roots that are embedded in the mud but are poorly developed so are relied on for only anchorage, not for the attainment of water, nutrients or minerals. |
s3_proxy.jpeg a) Taproot b) fibrous root | The roots of mesophytes can be fibrous or in a taproot system. Fibrous roots are only in the shallow soil, this means that they can absorb water (e.g. when it rains or if it is watered) from the surface of the soil at a fast rate. Taproot systems have one primary root that is generally large in size, with many smaller roots splitting off. This root system goes deep into the soil therefore meaning that the plants have access to moisture deep within the ground (Mesophytes ). While fibrous roots can absorb water immediately, during times of low water this becomes a disadvantage because the cannot reach the moisture in the deep soil. Taproot systems can reach both the surface water and the water deep within the ground so the plants are not as affected during times of drought. The roots of Mesophytic plants generally have many thick root hairs, which increases surface area for water to move into the roots (via osmosis) therefore increasing the amount of water the plant is able to obtain. |
Creosote Root Networks_thumb[2].jpg | The roots of xerophytes can vary in both size, quantity and how deep they reach. Some xerophytes have shallow reaching roots that extend a long way out to quickly capture any rainfall. These shallow root systems are generally shaped circularly so that they are able to quickly absorb large amounts of water during rainfall (Revision:Xerophytes and hydrophytes -...). However due to xerophytes living in climates where rainfall is infrequent, a plant will often have shallow and deep root systems to ensure best rates of survival. Xerophytes have deep strong root systems to ensure the best chances of obtaining water from deep within the ground. This ensures that the plant can maintain the correct water balance within its cells, even with infrequent rainfall and a low water climate. |