Rhizome

Rhizome

A rhizome is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow horizontally. The rhizome also retains the ability to allow new shoots to grow upwards.

A rhizome is the main stem of the plant. A stolon is similar to a rhizome, but a stolon sprouts from an existing stem, has long internodes, and generates new shoots at the end, such as in the strawberry plant. In general, rhizomes have short internodes; they send out roots from the bottom of the nodes and new shoots from the top of the nodes.

Types of Rhizomes

Rhizomes can be classified into two types:

• Sympodial Rhizomes: These rhizomes have a terminal bud and grow laterally. The plant uses the budding process to grow continuously.
• Monopodial Rhizomes: These rhizomes grow vertically and from a single bud. Examples of plants that use this method include Iris species, and certain orchid species.

Uses of Rhizomes

Rhizomes are used in propagation to grow new plants, either by dividing the rhizomes or by planting the cuttings. Some plants have rhizomes that grow above ground or that lie at the soil surface, including some Iris species, and ferns, whose spreading stems are rhizomes. Plants with underground rhizomes include ginger, bamboo, cannas, bananas and sympodial orchids. Some rhizome plants are also invasive weeds, such as Japanese knotweed and Johnson grass.

See Also

• Bulb
• Corm
• Stolon
• Tuber
• Plant propagation

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