BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS, RHIZOMES 



vegetation, it is remarkable that both of them are confined to one 



particular class of flowering plants— that known botanically as 



Monocotyledons. These are plants 



that are easily recognised by 



having (1) leaves with parallel or 



curvihnear veins; (2) the parts 



of the flowers {i.e., the petals, 



Fig. 5.— Crocus, showing new corm on top 

 of old one. 



Fio. 6.— Gladiolus, two new oorms over old 

 one, with " spawn '' at base. 



stamens, and carpels) arranged in three's or six's; and (3) when raised 

 from seed, by having only one seed-leaf. 



If these characteristics are borne in mind there will be no 

 difficulty iu distinguishing a true bulb or a true corm. 



TUBERS. — A tuber may be described as a short and more or less 

 thickened or swollen shoot or stem furnished with " eyes " or buds. 



Fig. 7. — Oxalis crenata. 



FiQ. 8. — Tropceoliim tuleroswm. (i.) 

 EXAMPLES OF TUBBES. 



Good examples are seen in the Potato and the Jerusalem Artichoke ; 

 others are the tuberous Begonia, the Cyclamen, the Anemone, Ranun- 

 culus, Aconite, the Arum Lily, Caladium, some Tropseolums, etc. The 

 Dahlia and herbaceous Paeony are examples in which the true roots 

 are swollen and of a tuberous nature, but they contain no vegetative 

 buds. These are borne at the base of the old flower-stems, portions 

 of which should be always retained when the plants are lifted and 



stored away. Examples of tubers are shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. 



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