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.
In general, the plant root system either consists of a taproot system (with primary root) or fibrous roots (adventitious roots) with attached branch roots and finer rootlets having root hairs close to the tip. Extent of Root Growth. Roots are so massive that their total dry weight may exceed that of the entire plant body.