Corm
Corm
Corm (/kɔːrm/), from the Greek word kormos meaning "trunk of a tree", is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat.
Description
A corm consists of one or more internodes with at least one growing point, with protective leaves enwrapping it in successive layers. Corms are sometimes confused with true bulbs, but they are composed of solid tissue, whereas bulbs are made up of layered scales or leaves.
Examples
Some plants that grow from corms include Crocus, Gladiolus, and Freesia. These plants have corms that are replaced every year by the plant with a new corm, which forms at the top of the old one. This process is known as cormels.
Etymology
The term "corm" comes from the Greek word kormos, which means "trunk of a tree". This is in reference to the short, vertical nature of the corm.
Related Terms
- Bulb: A bulb is a similar type of plant stem that is also used for storage but is made up of layered scales or leaves.
- Tuber: A tuber is another type of storage organ in plants. Unlike corms and bulbs, tubers are made up of enlarged stolons or roots.
- Rhizome: A rhizome is a horizontal plant stem that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Like corms, rhizomes can also be used by plants for storage and survival of adverse conditions.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Corm
- Wikipedia's article - Corm
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