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.
Quick Answer. There are several types of fibrous roots: aerial roots, prop roots, and contractile roots. Fibrous roots are a mass of roots that typically grow on the organs of a plant. They grow very differently than plants with taproots. Aerial roots are adventitious roots that grow from epiphytes such as those from the orchid family.