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This article is about Plant Biology . For the Nu Metal band, see Taproot (band) . For the New Age album by Michael Hedges , see Taproot (album) .


A Plant's taproot is a straight tapering Root that grows vertically down. It forms a center from which other roots sprout.

Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant.

The taproot is why Dandelion s are hard to uproot — the top is pulled, but the long taproot stays in the ground, and re-sprouts.

A ''taproot system'' contrasts to a '' Fibrous Root System '', with many branched roots.

Most Tree s begin life with a taproot, but after one to a few years change to a wide-spreading fibrous root system with mainly horizontal surface roots and only a few vertical, deep anchoring roots. A typical mature tree 30-50 m tall has a root system that extends horizontally in all directions as far as the tree is tall or more, but well over 95% of the roots are in the top 50 cm depth of soil.

Many taproots are modified to become Storage Organ s.

Some plants with taproots:



TYPICAL TAPROOTS

  • Conical root : another word for taproot.

  • Fusiform root : tapers at the top and at the bottom, e.g. the taproot of a white Radish .

  • Napiform root : is broader than it is long, e.g. the root of a Turnip .



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