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.
Taproots are also important adaptations for searching for water, as those long taproots found in mesquite and poison ivy. Top of Page Fibrous Root System: Characterized by having a mass of similarly sized roots. In this case the radicle from a germinating seed is short lived and is replaced by adventitious roots.