Tubers

Tubers are the swollen end of an underground root or stem.They are distinguished from roots by having "eyes". Each eye produces a separate plant when they sprout. --Tubers Potato (Solanum tuberosum) and Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) both have tubers. In late summer, underground leafless stems called **rhizomes** penetrate the upper layers of soil around the base of the original plant. In fall, the tips of the rhizomes enlarge to form a swollen object called a **tuber**. Since this is a stem tip, it is not a surprise that it has an apical and many axillary buds all over its surface. These are called "eyes" in common language. Each one of these buds can develop into a new plant next year. In fact a whole row of potato plants can be started from just one good tuber.

Corms of //Gladiolus// || Rhizomes of Jerusalem artichoke ||
 * [[image:http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/images/pixel.gif]] || [[image:http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/images/8.gif align="left"]] || **Stem Modifications** || [[image:http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/images/backbtn0.gif caption="Back" link="http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/pla01/07pla01.htm"]] || [[image:http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/images/nextbtn0.gif align="right" caption="Next" link="http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/pla01/09pla01.htm"]] || [[image:http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/images/pixel.gif]] ||
 * [[image:http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/images/dropshadow.gif width="440" height="12" align="top"]] |||| [[image:http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/images/dropshadow.gif width="60" height="12" align="top"]] ||
 * There are many stem variations in plants. Some variations are used as food, such as potatoes and asparagus. Others are sold in dormant condition for planting in the landscape, such as crocus corms and tulip bulbs. Many stem modifications provide opportunities for PROPAGATION.
 * a bulb has a flattened stem at the base with fleshy leaves making up most of the structure
 * a corm is an upright swollen stem, often enclosed in papery leaves
 * a stolon is a stem that grows along the ground suface, such as a strawberry runner
 * a rhizome is a horizontal underground stem, such as in bent grass or some irises ||
 * [[image:http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mgonline/Botany/graphics/gladioli.jpg width="275" height="200"]]
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 * [[image:http://www.life.uiuc.edu/help/digitalflowers/picts/Breeding%20Systems/32-Vegetative.jpg align="center" caption="[FMP-field: image]"]] ||  ||
 * || **Vegetative propagation** — Plants can form from stolons, rhizomes, tubers, corms, and bulbs. Vegetative propagation is an example of asexual reproduction because no exchange of pollen is involved. ||  ||