Rhizome
|
|
In botany, a rhizome is a horizontal, usually underground stem of a plant that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. They are also 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 and Lily of the valley. 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.