Specialised Roots: Introduction
Mycorrhizal roots: mycorrhizae are mututalistic or symbiotic associations between plant roots and fungi.
They are extremely common and geographically widespread,
being reported in more than 80 % of all angiosperms and all gymnosperms investigated to date.
Within heathlands, mycorrhizae are characteristic of the families Myrtaceae and Epacridaceae.
Proteoid roots: these are highly branched clusters of fine roots.
As the name suggests, they are characteristic of the family Proteaceae (e.g. Banksia, Grevillea),
but similar types of roots are developed by members of a range of plant families.
N-fixing roots: symbioses between roots and N-fixing microbes are characteristic of the families Mimosaceae (Acacia), Fabaceae (peas), Casuarinaceae (she-oaks) and Zamiaceae (cycads).
