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A geophyte (earth+plant) is a plant with an underground storage organ including true bulbs, corms, tubers, tuberous roots, enlarged hypocotyls, and rhizomes. Most plants with underground stems are geophytes but not all plants that are geophytes have underground stems. Geophytes are often physiologically active even when they lack leaves.
Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. [3] Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow horizontally. The rhizome also retains the ability to allow new shoots to grow upwards. [4] A rhizome is the main stem of the plant that runs typically underground and horizontally to the soil surface.
Corms are stems that are internally structured with solid tissues, which distinguishes them from bulbs, which are mostly made up of layered fleshy scales that are modified leaves. As a result, a corm cut in half appears solid inside, but a true bulb cut in half reveals that it is made up of layers. [ 3 ]
Stem tubers manifest as thickened rhizomes (underground stems) or stolons (horizontal connections between organisms); examples include the potato and yam. The term root tuber describes modified lateral roots , as in sweet potatoes , cassava , and dahlias .
Bulbs are a combination of stem and leaves so may better be considered as leaves because the leaves make up the greater part. Caespitose: When stems grow in a tangled mass or clump or in low growing mats. Cladode (including phylloclade): A flattened stem that appears leaf-like and is specialized for photosynthesis, [4] e.g. cactus pads.
In common parlance, underground storage organs may be generically called roots, tubers, or bulbs, but to the botanist there is more specific technical nomenclature: A harvested ginger rhizome. True roots: Storage taproot – e.g. carrot; Tuberous root or root tuber – e.g. Dahlia [4] Modified stems:
Tubers develop from either the stem or the root. Stem tubers grow from rhizomes or runners that swell from storing nutrients while root tubers propagate from roots that are modified to store nutrients and get too large and produce a new plant. [22] Examples of stem tubers are potatoes and yams and examples of root tubers are sweet potatoes and ...
bulb A thick storage organ, usually underground, consisting of a stem and leaf bases (the inner ones fleshy). bulbel A bulb arising from another bulb. See bulblet. bulbil A small, deciduous bulb or tuber formed in the axil of a leaf or pinna; a means of vegetative propagation. bulblet A bulb arising from another bulb; a bulbel. bullate 1.