What are breathing, climbing and hanging roots?

Question

examples should be included and if possible some information on water-absorbing root.

Answer 1

Pnuematophoric roots of marshy plants are breathing roots. Orchids are hanging (Dendrobium) and climbing (all monopodial orchids like vanda, arachnis etc). The root tip of orchids absorb water from air.

Answer 2

1 ) Breathing Roots ( Pneumatophores = air bearer !!) are the upright roots that develop on Mangroves or Marsh plants .

Pneumatophores

These specialized aerial roots enable plants to breath air in habitats that have waterlogged soil.

The roots may grow down from the stem, or up from typical roots.

Some botanists classify these as aerating roots rather than aerial roots, if they come up from soil.

((((((The surface of these roots are covered with lenticels which take up air into spongy tissue which in turn uses osmotic pathways to spread oxygen throughout the plant as needed.))))))

Click on the links below for more information / pictures =

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en...

http://orissawildlife.com/images/ecotour...

http://www.enhg.org/bulletin/b32/32_07.j...

2 ) Climbing roots = These roots develop on weak stemmed plants that require 'help' for climbing so that they can get good benefit of sun light = These are called aerial roots as they are always above the ground .

Aerial roots as supports

Non-parasitic ivy are vines that use their aerial roots to cling to host plants, rocks, or houses.

Prop roots form on aerial stems and grow down into the soil to brace the plant, e.g. maize and s***w pine.

http://www.rainforestlive.org.uk/media/I...

http://img.tfd.com/wn/30/6BE2B-adventiti...

3 ) Hanging roots = These are also called epiphytic roots or water absorbing roots =

These are found on Orchids that grow 'Hanging ' from other trees .

These roots have a special tissue caled Velamen tissue in the roots .

This Velamen tissue has spongy texture and can absorb moisture / water from the air / atmosphere .

Orchid plant with such roots on the link ===

http://www.unaniherbalist.com/images/her...

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/preview...

http://www.life.uiuc.edu/help/digitalflo...

Velamen tissue on the link below ==

http://www.pharmakobotanik.de/allgemei/m...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53285148@N0...

From == Botanist