A Bulb By Any Other Name…
from Spring Hill Nursery
Now that many of us are thinking about planting our spring-flowering bulbs,
it’s a good time to examine bulbs a bit more closely. What exactly is a bulb?
Simply put, the term bulb has become a generic term for any plant that stores
energy in an underground storage organ. Only some of the plants in this category
are true bulbs. The rest can be categorized as tubers, corms, and rhizomes. So
what’s the difference?
Bulb
A bulb is formed from the plant stem and leaves. The bottom of a bulb is made up of a smell disk called the basal plate, which is a compressed stem. Roots grow from the bottom of the plate. Layers of scalelike leaf bases filled with food sit on the plate and surround a bud that will become next year’s flower. Examples of bulbs are daffodil, lily, tulip, and some irises.
Corm
A corm is an underground storage organ formed from the
stem. It is a mass of solid tissue and does not have separate scales, like a
bulb. Instead, a dry, papery outer layer (formed from semi-developed leaves)
protects the inner structure. After the stem sprouts from the corm, buds form
atop the stem. Smaller, secondary buds often grow on the outside of the corm,
but only develop fully when the main stem bud is damaged. At the end of the
growing season, a new corm will form on the base of the old one. Examples of
corms are crocus, freesia, and gladiolus.
Rhizome
A rhizome is a swollen length of underground stem that
bears roots and leaves. A rhizome grows horizontally and forms roots on its
underside while leaves sprout from the top. Buds form at intervals along the
structures. Examples of rhizomes are canna lily, calla lily, and some
irises.
Tuber
A tuber is a storage organ formed from a stem or root.
A potato is the best known example of a tuber. It develops eyes (or buds) all
over its surface; shoots grow upward from these buds to form plants. Examples of
tubers are anemone, cyclamen, dahlia, and tuberous begonia.
So whether it’s a bulb, corm, rhizome, or tuber, now is the time to order them and get them planted for spring flowering.
www.springhillnursery.com.
BulbA bulb is formed from the plant stem and leaves. The bottom of a bulb is made up of a smell disk called the basal plate, which is a compressed stem. Roots grow from the bottom of the plate. Layers of scalelike leaf bases filled with food sit on the plate and surround a bud that will become next year’s flower. Examples of bulbs are daffodil, lily, tulip, and some irises.
Corm
A corm is an underground storage organ formed from the
stem. It is a mass of solid tissue and does not have separate scales, like a
bulb. Instead, a dry, papery outer layer (formed from semi-developed leaves)
protects the inner structure. After the stem sprouts from the corm, buds form
atop the stem. Smaller, secondary buds often grow on the outside of the corm,
but only develop fully when the main stem bud is damaged. At the end of the
growing season, a new corm will form on the base of the old one. Examples of
corms are crocus, freesia, and gladiolus.Rhizome
A rhizome is a swollen length of underground stem that
bears roots and leaves. A rhizome grows horizontally and forms roots on its
underside while leaves sprout from the top. Buds form at intervals along the
structures. Examples of rhizomes are canna lily, calla lily, and some
irises.Tuber
A tuber is a storage organ formed from a stem or root.
A potato is the best known example of a tuber. It develops eyes (or buds) all
over its surface; shoots grow upward from these buds to form plants. Examples of
tubers are anemone, cyclamen, dahlia, and tuberous begonia.So whether it’s a bulb, corm, rhizome, or tuber, now is the time to order them and get them planted for spring flowering.
www.springhillnursery.com.
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