Although roots grow beneath the surface, their importance to plant life is immense. Roots anchor plants firmly in the ground, absorb water and minerals, and store energy in the form of starch.

But roots don’t just support—they interact. Through a network called the “rhizosphere,” roots form symbiotic relationships with beneficial fungi like mycorrhizae, which help increase nutrient absorption in exchange for sugars.

Some root systems stretch for kilometers underground. In forests, certain trees use their roots to share nutrients and send warning signals to neighboring plants when threatened—a phenomenon known as the “Wood Wide Web.”

Additionally, root types vary dramatically: taproots like in carrots, fibrous roots in grasses, and aerial roots in orchids. Each is adapted for survival in specific environments.

Studying root systems leads to agricultural advances, especially in drought resistance and soil health. Roots may be hidden, but their impact is deeply felt.