Question
QUESTION: Are there true roots in conifers and what do they do?

ANSWER: Yes all trees have roots. When a tree seed germinates, the first (primary) root grows down in the soil in response to gravity. Secondary roots then branch off horizontally, with subsequent branching into tertiary roots, etc. Absorption of water and mineral nutrients is the function of the very fine, non-woody roots (the feeder roots). With continued growth, each root will lose its ability for absorption. These larger woody roots then function as the transport system for water and nutrients from the new feeder roots to the stem. They are also the tree's system of anchorage and a food storage area. The resulting system thus consists of several main transport roots that extend radially and horizontally from the tree base and divide into ever smaller roots, each ending in a dense mass of fine feeder roots.



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QUESTION: What actually are true roots

ANSWER: These are the growths that extend into the soil to gather water and food for the leaves of the plant. Conifers are in the plant groups that has these while other plants like mosses do not have roots that gather the water and food but this is gotten though the stem and foliage.

The plant kingdom is sub-divided into two major groups.


The vascular plants (Phylum Tracheophyta) are all the larger plants which have specialised transport systems (veins) to carry nutrients and water (See Plant systems A: Trasnport and support). They have true roots, stems, and leaves. This group include ferns, clubmosses, conifers, cycads, ginkgoes, and the well-known angiosperms (flowering plants).


Non-vascular plants simply absorb nutrients and water through their external surface, which means that they are restricted to aquatic environments or permanently moist areas. They include Phylum Bryophyta (mosses and liverworts). Sometimes the algae (sea weeds) are also classified as non-vascular plants. (They are normally grouped with the Protists. Because non-vascular plants lack specialised transport systems, the size of non-vascular plants growing on land is restricted to a few centimetres.



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QUESTION: What is the difference of true roots and roots?

Answer
Essentially the same thing. True roots absorb water end minerals and support the plant. Roots also do this BUT in some of the plants they only act as support. The plant gets it water and food through the leaves and stems. These two words are used to describe the support as "put down roots". Both are correct when talking about most plants except the Non-vascular plants which the "roots" are for support.