Have you ever wondered if the top of plants arer actually roots but the roots are the leaves?

Question: Have you ever wondered if the top of plants arer actually roots but the roots are the leaves?
- Keywords:
- Royal Society of Chemistry: Find out more about:
  
  leaf
  
  plant
  
  root
Asked by HarryCottle to Sarah on 6 Mar 2015.
- Sarah Kirk answered on 6 Mar 2015:
  
  No, I have never wondered that! What an interesting idea. When we use the words ‘roots’ and ‘leaves’, we are talking about what each part does. Leaves absorb sunlight to make sugars for the plant, whereas roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil. I think if they were the other way around it would be difficult for them to do the job – there isn’t much sunlight under the ground!

Question: Have you ever wondered if the top of plants arer actually roots but the roots are the leaves?