expected unqualified-id before '->' token, How to fix this?

expected unqualified-id before '->' token, How to fix this?

[code]
struct box
{
char word[200][200];
char meaning[200][200];
int count;
};
struct root {
box *alphabets[26];
};
struct root *stem;
struct box *access;
void init(){
int sizeofBox = sizeof(struct box);
for(int i = 0 ; i<= 25; i++){
struct box *temp =(struct box*)( malloc(sizeofBox));
temp->count = 0;
root->alphabets[i] = temp; //error line
}
}
[/code]
Error: Expected unqualified-id before '->' token How to fix this bug. Can
anyone explain what kind is this...??