Rhizome
A
rhizome is, in
botany, a usually underground, horizontal
stem of a
plant that often sends out
roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes may also be referred to as creeping rootstalks, or rootstocks. A
stolon is similar to a rhizome, but exists above ground, sprouting from an existing stem.
Many plants have rhizomes that serve to spread the plant by
vegetative reproduction. Examples are
asparagus,
Lily of the valley and
sympodial orchids. The spreading stems of
ferns are also called rhizomes.
A
tuber is a thickened part of a rhizome that has been enlarged for use as a
storage organ. They are typically high in
starch. An example is the common
potato.
