What is a Fibrous Root?
Fibrous root systems have many secondary roots but not a main root. They spread through the soil in the plant’s vicinity and help hold the soil together. Fibrous root system: crabgrass Taproot system: dandelion Here’s a picture about 1/4 of the way down the page: http://www.dmturner.org/Teacher/Library/…
A fibrous root is a type of plant root. In plants with a fibrous root system, the roots are all more or less the same size, and they look like fine, branching hairs which have grown to create a dense mat. This type of root system is extremely common, especially among grasses and wildflowers, and it has a number of advantages for the plant. Many people have experienced fibrous roots if they work in the garden. When plants start growing, the first root they put out is known as a radicle. The radicle is a large, thick root which is designed to get the plant established and anchored so that it will be able to absorb nutrients. Plants with fibrous root systems have radicles which eventually die back, allowing fibrous roots to project from the stem and into the soil. Taproots, by contrast, develop directly from the radicle, creating a single large, thick root which anchors the plant in the ground. Classically, fibrous roots can be found projecting from taproots to gather nutrients for the pl
