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[Image:Primary and secondary cotton roots.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Primary and secondary roots in a cotton plant]]
[[Image:Primary and secondary cotton roots.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Primary and secondary roots in a cotton plant]]
In [[vascular plant]]s, the '''root''' is that organ of a [[plant]] body that typically lies below the surface of the [[soil]] (compare with [[plant stem|stem]]). However, this is not always the case, since a root can also be [[aerial root|'''aerial''']] (that is, growing above the ground) or '''aerating''' (that is, growing up above the ground or especially above water). On the other hand, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either (see [[rhizome]]). So, it is better to define ''root'' as a part of a plant body that bears no leaves, and therefore also lacks [[Node (botany)|nodes]]. There are also important internal structural differences between stems and roots. The two major functions of roots are 1) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients and 2) anchoring the plant body to the ground. Roots also function in [[cytokinin]] synthesis, which supplies some of shoot needs. They often function in storage of food.
In [[vascular plant]]s, the '''root''' is that organ of a [[plant]] body that typically lies below the surface of the [[soil]] (compare with [[plant stem|stem]]). However, this is not always the case, since a root can also be [[aerial root|'''aerial''']] (that is, growing above the ground) or '''aerating''' (that is, growing up above the ground or especially above water). On the other hand, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either (see [[rhizome]]). So, it is better to define ''root'' as a part of a plant body that bears no leaves, and therefore also lacks [[Node (botany)|nodes]]. There are also important internal structural differences between stems and roots. The two major functions of roots are 1) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients and 2) anchoring the plant body to the ground. Roots also function in [[cytokinin]] synthesis, which supplies some of shoot needs. They often function in storage of food.