Rocket sets his bean seedling on the windowsill. "Water goes in the soil," he says. "But how does it get to the leaves?"
Raven leans close to the cup. "What do you notice under the soil line?"
Nova hovers beside the cup. "Start at the bottom," she says. "What part of the plant touches the water first?"
Rocket squints. "The roots!"
Roots are the hidden half of a plant.
Roots take in water and minerals from the soil.
Roots hold the plant in the ground, like an anchor.
Roots help support the stem.
Some roots also store food for the plant.
Many roots are covered in thousands of tiny root hairs.
Root hairs make the root surface much bigger.
More surface means the root can take in more water.
Root hairs are delicate. They tear easily when a plant is moved.
| Kind | What it looks like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| taproot | one thick main root going down | carrot |
| fibrous roots | many thin roots spreading out | grass |
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| A carrot has a taproot. | ? |
| Grass has a fibrous root system. | ? |
| Root hairs make it harder to take in water. | ? |
| Roots can store food. | ? |
Great root detective work! Tomorrow we follow the water up the stem.