root hair

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Tiny, hair-like outgrowth of some surface cells of plant roots that greatly increases the area available for the absorption of water and other materials such as minerals. It is a delicate structure, which survives for a few days only and does not develop into a root. Root hair cells are found just behind the root tip where they are continually being formed. They grow out into the soil for a few millimetres to produce the root hair. Each root hair is made of a single cell. At the root tip mitosis cell division is very active making new cells for growth to replace the root hair cells that die.

The majority of land plants have root hairs. The layer of the root's epidermis that produces root hairs is known as the piliferous layer.

Orange represents courage and sacrifice. White represents truth, purity, and peace. Green represents faith, fertility, and chivalry. The emblem is the Ashoka Chakra (‘Wheel of the Law’). Effective date: 22 July 1947. >>