what is a taproot and a fibrous root
The Advantages of the Fibrous Root & Taproot Systems. Fibrous roots branch from the plant's base, and taproots go straight down. Unseen and buried beneath the soil, plant roots perform functions that are necessary to a plant's life. The roots collect water and nutrients for the plant and secure it to the soil. Two basic types of root systems exist. One type is the taproot, which grows vertically and has lateral branches. The other type has fibrous, branching roots that make a network close to the soil surface. Some plants have either a taproot or fibrous roots, and other plants combine the two systems.
A fibrous root system consists of many roots, none of which is the radicle, instead all the main roots are adventitious roots that originate in the stem tissue. fibrous root systems do not penetrate as deeply into the soil as taproots do, and they are made up of a large number of roots that are all similar in size. Tap root systems are composed of one primary root which is thick and penetrates deeply, while other smaller roots grow off of this primary root.