Deutsch: Wurzel / Español: Raíz / Português: Raiz / Français: Racine / Italiano: Radice
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.
In the industrial context, the term 'root' is often used to refer to the underlying cause of a problem or issue. Identifying the root cause is an important step in problem-solving, as it allows organizations to address the underlying issue rather than just the symptoms.