What is the difference between corms and rhizomes

The corm of a mature snake lily is hassock-shaped and can measure 10 inches at the widest point across, 9 inches front to back, and 6 inches tall. The cyclamen Cyclamen persicum , a popular gift from the florist shop during the winter holiday season, also grows from a corm, as does the popular cut flower, Gladiolus.

We tend to lump Crocus vernus together with spring bulb plants since it blooms at the same time and is hardy , but the following are examples of true bulb plants:. Like crocuses, these plants have bulbous, underground plant parts that can survive cold winters, and their flower stems push up through the ground in spring.

But true bulbs are divided into layers think of an onion , including a papery outer layer. Corms are not divided in this way; rather, they are solid units. So what is the difference between tubers and corms? Buds sprout from tubers think of the "eyes" on a potato. You can cut off individual hunks that have buds and plant them to get new plants, which is something you can't do with corms and bulbs.

An example of a landscape plant that grows from tubers is the Dahlia. Tubers, unlike corms, bulbs, and rhizomes, do not multiply. Still, other plants grow from rhizomes. Rhizomes are modified, swollen stems that grow horizontally.

They often appear as nothing more than roots. Like tubers, rhizomes have buds from which new plants sprout. But tubers do not grow horizontally. Tubers: Lastly, there are tubers. The most well-known example of a tuber is a potato. A tuber is a storage organ formed from a stem or root. This organ develops eyes or buds all over its surface.

Shoots grow upward from the buds and form plants. Other examples include cyclamen , dahlia , and tuberous begonia. So there you have it. From a botanical perspective, it can be helpful to know the differences between them.

A true bulb is a compressed, underground stem that is sometimes called a basal plate. It has a modified flower bud or other growth point that is surrounded by modified, fleshy leaves that are referred to as scales.

A well-known example is an onion. Bulbs are often described as tunicate or non-tunicate based on their structure. A tunicate bulb has a papery, outer scale called a tunic that helps prevent it from drying out. Examples include onion, garlic, narcissus, and amaryllis. A non-tunicate bulb does not have a papery outer coating.