While walking a cornfield, you notice roots emerging from the corn stalks themselves, and you suspect that these roots are helping to hold the plants upright. These roots belong to a category of roots known as ________.
A) taproots
B) fibrous roots
C) adventitious roots
D) root hairs
E) special roots

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Adventitious roots are roots that arise from an unexpected source, such as from a stem or leaf. In the case of corn, adventitious roots emerge from the lower stem of the plant and help to anchor the plant in the soil, providing additional support to keep the plant upright. This is especially important in windy conditions, where the plants may be at risk of being blown over. Taproots and fibrous roots are types of primary root systems typically found in different types of plants, whereas root hairs are small extensions of roots that increase surface area for absorption of water and nutrients. "Special roots" is not a recognized category of roots.

While Walking a Cornfield, You Notice Roots Emerging from the Corn