Taproot

About

A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally and horizontally. Typically, a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproot is a storage organ so well developed that it has been cultivated as a vegetable. The taproot system contrasts with the adventitious or fibrous-root system of plants with many branched roots. However, many plants that grow a taproot during germination go on to develop branching root structures. Some plants that rely on the main root for storage may retain the dominant taproot for centuries, as exemplified by Welwitschia.