124 THE CORM. 
be distinguished from a bulb by its solid nature (fig. 245, a, b), 
the bulb being formed of flattened imbricated or concentrically 
Fie. 244. Fie. 249. 
Fig. 244, Corms of Crocus sativus. a, b. The new corms, arising from c, the 
apex of the old or parent corm. Fig. 245, Vertical section of the former. 
The letters refer to the same parts. 
arranged scales. The corm is known to be a kind of stem by 
producing from its surface one or more buds, in the form of 
young corms, as in the Crocus (fig. 244, a, b), 
where they proceed from the apex, ¢, and ulti- 
mately destroy their parent by feeding upon 
its accumulated nutriment. These new corms, 
in a future year, also produce others near 
their apex, and these by developing at the 
expense of their parents also destroy them 
in like manner, and these again form other 
corms by which they are themselves destroyed. 
In this manner the new corms, as they are 
successively developed from the apex of the 
old corms, come gradually nearer and nearer 
to the surface of the earth. 
In the Colchicum (jig. 246), the new corm 
a’ is developed on one side of the old corm 
Fig. 246, Colchicum. near its base, instead of from the apex, as in 
Fes ets or T°" the Crocus. This also feeds upon its parent, 
Shrivelled remains and ultimately destroys it, and is in like 
eer ere manner destroyed the next year by its own 
present year. qa”, progeny. Thus, in taking up such a corm 
AS ortega gat of carefully, we find (jig. 246), a, the shrivelled 
vee OF BEXt Gorm of last year ; and a’, that of the present 
i season, which, if cut vertically, shows @’”, the 
corm in a young condition for the next year. Adl corms, like 
bulbs, contain starch or other nutritious matters, which are 
stored up for the future use of their offspring. 
Fic. 246. 
