University of Florida

Home > Root growth > Roots in nature vs. nursery > Root growth in nature > Tap root dominates

In well drain soils tap roots sometimes dominate

back buttonnext button

top root is larger in diameter than the trunk

The tap root is larger in diameter than the trunk. It grew down until it reached a salt water table of the adjacent brackish river. Lateral roots developed but did not grow in diameter enough to cut off transport between trunk and tap root. This allowed the tap root to remain dominant.