In
vascular plants, the
root is the
organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the
soil. However, roots can also be
aerial or aerating (growing up above the ground or especially above water). Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either (see
rhizome). Therefore, the root is best defined as the non-leaf, non-
nodes bearing parts of the plant's body. However, important internal structural differences between stems and roots exist.