CHAP. II. 
STEM. 
81 
distinguished both by its ascending origin, and by its ana- 
tomical structure. (See Root.) 
25 26 
27 
The following are the varieties which have been distin- 
guished : — 
The Cormus^Jig. 25. (Lecus of Du Petit Thouars, Plateau 
of De Candolle), is the dilated base of the stem of Monocoty- 
ledonous plants, intervening betiveen the roots and the first 
buds ; and forming the reproductive portion of the stem of 
such plants when they are not caulescent. It is composed of 
cellular tissue, traversed by bundles of vessels and pleuren- 
chyma, and has often the form of a flattened disk. The fleshy 
‘‘ root ” of the Arum, that of the Crocus and the Colchicum, 
are all different forms of the cormus. It has been called dul-- 
hotuher by Ker, and hulbus solidus by many others ; the last is 
a contradiction in terms. (See Bulb.) 
The stems of Palms have by some writers been considered 
as an extended cormus, and not a true stem, but this seems an 
extravagant application of the term ; or rather an application 
which reduces the signification of the term to nothing. A 
cormus is a depressed subterranean stem of a particular kind ; 
the trunk of a Palm is, as far as its external character is con- 
cerned, as much a stem as that of an Oak. De Candolle ap- 
plies the name cormus only to the stems of Cryptogamous 
plants, and refers to it the Anahices of Necker. 
G 
