In biology, a rhizome is an underground stem with several shoots. These stems grow horizontally, giving off roots and grassy shoots at their various nodes. The rhizomes propagate indefinitely. Over time, the older parts die off, but new growth covers a large area each year. They create thickened branches with short nodes. There are countless examples of rhizomes which can help us to better understand all this.
For this reason, in this article we will tell you about the main examples of rhizomes and their main characteristics.
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Examples of rhizomes and their characteristics
Rhizomes are considered underground stems along with bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes. Underground stems store nutrients in their stems, so they also serve as reserve organs when harsh seasons like winter begin.
According to their growth and branching, rhizomes can be classified as coaxial or uniaxial. Sympodial rhizomes are those in which each part corresponds to the development of a continuous axillary bud. An example of such a rhizome is Sansevieria and Poaceae.
In the case of a monopodial rhizome, our terminal buds continue to grow indefinitely as a rhizome. Axillary buds produce new shoots. In fgeneral, is an invasive plant or weed. The rhizome is a vegetative reproductive system common to many plants like lily and ginger.
The rhizomes can be divided into pieces containing buds and can be grown individually. Rooted plants are perennials that lose their aerial parts in cooler climates, but survive underground as their rhizomes store nutrients for the following spring.
Some plants with underground rhizomes include ginger, hops, and turmeric, which are known for their medicinal properties, as well as weeds Aleppo sorghum or johnson grass, bermudagrass and coquito or cypero.
Some plants have rhizomes that grow above the soil surface, such as some lilies and ferns, whose swollen stems are rhizomes. There, the rhizome is a descriptive model in which the organization of elements does not follow a line of hierarchical subordination, i.e. It has a base or root which gives rise to multiple ramifications, and any element that intervenes is likely to influence the others.
Functionality of rhizomes
The main function of rhizomes is to store nutrients, including carbohydrates and proteins, until the plant needs them to produce new shoots or to survive winter in a process called vegetative reproduction.
Farmers they use asexual reproduction to laterally propagate plants such as hops, ginger, and several species of grasses. Some rhizomes are also edible or used as a condiment, such as ginger and turmeric.
Rhizomes are a vegetative reproductive system common to many plants, such as splendens, canna, calla lily, and ginger. Rhizomes can be divided into blocks containing at least one bud each and can be planted individually. Rhizomes can be divided into two different types based on the type of branch they exist on.
In rhizomes, propagation is achieved by cutting or dividing the rhizome into sections, each of which has the ability to produce new shoots. Since the rhizomes store a large amount of nutrients and they are prone to adventitious roots, it is not difficult to produce new plants.
Each part removed for propagation usually consists of several internodes and must have a vegetative bud or meristem. Generally, the rhizome parts can be transplanted directly to the desired location.
Leaves should be cut when transplanting. The rhizomes divide before the end or the beginning of the growing season, i.e. in late summer, fall or early spring. If divided in early summer, the rhizome parts will root and become established before winter.
examples of rhizomes
Plants that reproduce by rhizomes are perennials, which include:
Ginger
It is one of the most popular root crops in the ginger family due to its many uses and properties.
Grass or white grass
The grass has thin rhizomes.
Indian cane
It is a tropical plant, and despite its rhizomes which facilitate its development and growth, maintenance and conservation require great attention and care.
mint
Mint is one of the most valuable plants for its unique properties, smell and taste, it has rhizomes like ginger.
Lily
Lilies are rooted plants with thick, leafy stems that allow them to survive extreme temperatures and harsh winters.
seal of solomon
Characterized by the presence of tubular white flowers. Its growth and development require a large amount of nutrients, so the presence of rhizomes favors its absorption, storage and transformation.
Bamboo
All bamboos reproduce by rhizomes and are especially of great interest in gardening to create barriers in our homes that provide us with separation, protection or greater privacy.
Difference Between Rhizoid and Root
A rhizome is a root-like structure that exists at the base of algae and serves to hold the substrate in place. Unlike the root does not serve as the primary organ for capturing water or nutrients. It is important to note that rhizomes are threadlike cellular structures found in the sporophytes of some algae, gametophytes, and lower vascular plants.
The roots are plant organs, generally underground, without leaves, having functions of absorption, fixation and storage; rhizomes are structures related to the roots found in plants. Rhizomes are found in mushrooms, bryophytes and ferns.
The vegetative bodies of fungi and bryophytes are indistinguishable in terms of roots, stems and leaves. The form and function of the rhizome depends on the species and the type of substrate. The rhizomes of organisms that live in muddy substrates often have complex ramifications.
On the contrary, the rhizomes of organisms that live on sandy substrates are bulbous and very flexiblelike those of sea pens, which can insert their whole body into the substrate when the rhizomes shrink.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the main examples of rhizomes that exist and their characteristics.