by Malphigi and other botanists, is used to signify the stem or trunk of a tree: by Linnaeus, the stock or body of the root, part of which affords, part defends. The ascending part raises itself gradually above ground, serving frequently for a trunk, and corresponds in some measure to the caudex of former writers: the descending part strikes gradually downward into the ground, and puts forth radicles or small fibres, which are the principal and essential part of every root*. The descending caudex therefore corresponds to the radix of other botanists. Agreeably to this idea, Linnaeus considers trees and shrubs as roots above ground; an opinion which is confirmed by a well-known fact, that trees when inverted, put forth leaves from the descending caudex, and radicles or roots from the ascending. For the varieties in the descending caudex, see the article RADIUS.