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rudimentary stem of a plant which supports the cotyledons in the seed, and from which the root is developed downward; the stem of the embryo; the caulicle.

Of or performance to roots, or the root of a plant.

Producing numerous radicles, or rootlets.

The pungent fleshy root of a well-known cruciferous plant (Paphanus sativus); also, the whole plant. Radish fly (Zoöl.), a small two-winged fly (Anthomyia raphani) whose larvæ burrow in radishes. It resembles the onion fly. -- Rat-tailed radish (Bot.), an herb (Raphanus caudatus) having a long, slender pod, which is s…

A primitive, from which spring other words; a radical; a root; an etymon.

A genus of stemless, leafless plants, living parasitically upon the roots and stems of grapevines in Malaysia. The flowers have a carrionlike odor, and are very large, in one species (Rafflesia Arnoldi) having a diameter of two or three feet.

Branched, as the stem or root of a plant; having lateral divisions; consisting of, or having, branches; full of branches; ramifying; branching; branchy.

A plant (Campanula Rapunculus) of the Bellflower family, with a tuberous esculent root; -- also called ramps.

To rub or scratch out; to erase. [Obsoles.] Except we rase the faculty of memory, root and branch, out of our mind. Fuller.

acon. Rasp palm (Bot.), a Brazilian palm tree (Iriartea exorhiza) which has strong aërial roots like a screw pine. The roots have a hard, rough surface, and are used by the natives for graters and rasps, whence the common name.

alled quaking grass. -- Rattlesnake plantain (Bot.), See under Plantain. -- Rattlesnake root (Bot.), a name given to certain American species of the composite genus Prenanthes (P. alba and P. serpentaria), formerly asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Calling also lion's foot, gall of the earth, and white le…

One of the stems or shoots of sugar cane of the second year's growth from the root, or later. See Plant-cane.

A Shakespearean word (used once) supposed to mean the same as race, a root.

- Recurrent sensibility (Physiol.), the sensibility manifested by the anterior, or motor, roots of the spinal cord (their stimulation causing pain) owing to the presence of sensory fibers from the corresponding sensory or posterior roots.

The roots of the Chilian plant Calceolaria arachnoidea, -- used for dyeing crimson.

Prostrate and rooting; -- said of stems. Gray.

quantity the two parts of which are connected by the negative sign, as a-b. -- Residual root (Alg.), the root of a residual quantity, as sq. root(a-b).

A European leguminous plant (Ononis arvensis) with long, tough roots.

The powerfully astringent root of a half-shrubby Peruvian plant (Krameria triandra). It is used in medicine and to color port wine. [Written also ratany.] Savanilla rhatany, the root of Krameria Ixina, a native of New Granada.

ng usually the larger joints, which become swollen, hot, and very painful. -- Rheumatism root. (Bot.) See Twinleaf.