a. [T]he reins of their (Moors) horses were as fire, their faces black as pitch, their eyes shone like burning candles, their horses were swift as leopards and the riders fiercer than a wolf in a sheepfold at night . . .
Appearance. A taproot has a main root, similar in appearance to a carrot, which is also a taproot. In most cases, smaller, auxiliary roots grow laterally all along the main taproot. A fibrous root system is a mass of small roots, with an appearance of a mass of fibers. It can resemble a bird's nest or a ball of yarn. The roots are typically only a few inches long and branch frequently, similar to the canopy of a tree.
The Advantages of the Fibrous Root & Taproot Systems. Fibrous roots branch from the plant's base, and taproots go straight down. Unseen and buried beneath the soil, plant roots perform functions that are necessary to a plant's life. The roots collect water and nutrients for the plant and secure it to the soil. Two basic types of root systems exist. One type is the taproot, which grows vertically and has lateral branches. The other type has fibrous, branching roots that make a network close to the soil surface. Some plants have either a taproot or fibrous roots, and other plants combine the two systems.