Adventitious roots
/ˌæd.vənˈtɪʃ.əs ruːts/
Definition
Adventitious roots are roots that develop from non-root tissues, such as stems, leaves, or old woody parts, rather than from the primary root or its normal branches. They are a plant structure and often form after injury, burial, or contact with water or moist soil. In horticulture, they are common on stem cuttings and on plants like pothos, where roots emerge from nodes instead of the original root system.
Function in Plants
- Stem support in climbing plants: In ivy and similar climbers, adventitious roots help stems attach to bark, stone, or other surfaces, improving support and access to light.
- Flood and oxygen stress response: Some plants produce adventitious roots near the soil surface or above water when deeper roots lack oxygen, helping maintain water and nutrient uptake under flooded conditions.
- Vegetative propagation value: Their formation is central to rooting stem cuttings, air layering, and the recovery of buried or damaged stems, which is why many houseplants and woody ornamentals can be propagated this way.
- Common in monocots: In grasses, palms, and other monocots, adventitious roots often make up much of the mature root system, replacing the short-lived primary root and anchoring the plant as it grows.
Related Terms
Aerial roots
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Root
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Root hair
Root hair refers to a tiny, tubular extension of a root epidermal cell, usually found near the growing tip on young…
Node
Node refers to the point on a plant stem where leaves, buds, branches, or flowers attach or can develop. It is a…
Stem
Stem refers to the main aboveground plant structure that supports leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits, and connects them…
Layering
Layering is a vegetative propagation technique in which a stem forms roots while still attached to the parent plant…
Air layering
Air layering is a vegetative propagation technique in which roots are induced to form on a stem or branch while it…
Cuttings
Cuttings are pieces of a plant, such as stem, leaf, or root sections, removed from the parent plant and used to produce…