Theophrasti De Historia Plantarum (1483 Incunabulum)

The root of squills, however, and of bulbs, and of onions grows in the opposite way. Also, other plants send out little rootlets from their side. But the roots of squills and likewise of onions send out nothing at all. In total, those that hang from the head through the middle are seen to be roots and they coalesce. That part which is swelling constitutes itself in the manner of a cyme or fruit. But since it is wrong to assert that there is more of these than there ought to be of a root, an ambiguity can arise, since it is understood that to have asserted that the whole thing is a root is by no means correctly done. For the root of a bulb and a leek will lack a stem entirely, and in total, all things which nature wished to be extended beneath the earth will have no stem, if one wishes to summarize everything into a root. Take the truffle, which some call achion a type of truffle or subterranean fungus, and the viguvipun unidentified root/fungus, and whatever else lies hidden beneath the ground; these will undoubtedly be roots. None of which consist of the form of a root. For these ought to be distinguished by their powers, not by their locations. But perhaps that is said correctly; that thing, nevertheless, is a root. But that difference of the root must be rendered: such as that one is so great, another is such, and another is one from which nourishment is taken from another. Although, both it and those fleshy ones are seen to attract nourishment to themselves. Therefore, country folk feed the roots of trees before they have begun to put forth buds; they render them larger while they restrain the impulse of budding. For it is manifest that all things of this kind tend downward. For the stems and all parts above are short and weak. But the lower parts are large, frequent, and strong. And this is not only in the aforementioned, but also in the reed, the grass, and finally in all things that are of a reed-like nature and those that are similar to them, and those that are ferulaceous resembling giant fennel. These also have large and fleshy roots. Most herbaceous plants contain roots of this kind, such as the aspalax mole-rat crocus, which they also call the "partridge-root," because partridges roll themselves toward it and dig up the earth. In the same way, the Egyptians call it vulgum the common plant. And indeed, its leaves are ample and the bud is small. But the root is long and in the manner of a fruit, and suitable for food. They gather it when the river has overflowed, because they decorate the marshy areas. The laserpitium silphium and that which is named magydaris a related umbelliferous plant possess a difference most evident and greater than the rest. For the entire nature of these and all plants of this kind seems to consist rather in their roots. Therefore, this must be understood thus. But some plants appear to obtain more differences beyond those mentioned, such as the root of the arachidne a type of earth-nut, and that which is similar to the aracus vetchling. For both bring forth fruit that is not smaller above the ground. The fleshy part itself sends a simple, very thick root to be fixed deeper. But it drives the others, upon which the fruit rests, to be thin and attached to the top layer of turf. They love sandy places above all. Neither bears leaves, nor anything similar to leaves, but they exist rather as the fruitful parts of two fruits opposed to each other. Which is truly a wonder. The powers of the nature of plants vary with so many differences. The roots of all things grow before the parts above. Yet nothing can go deeper than the heat of the sun reaches. For it is heat which has the power of generating. Other things, either by nature in the soil to the depth of the root, seem to contribute most to its length if the soil is light, rare, and easy to pass through. For in places of this kind, it is produced further, and larger increments follow. This is established most in the genus of the most urban plants. For these, if they have an abundance of water...