Examples of rhizomes: characteristics and function
In biology, a rhizome is an underground stem with many shoots. These stems grow horizontally, sending out grassy roots and shoots at various nodes. The rhizomes spread endlessly. Over time, the oldest parts die off, but each year up-to-date shoots cover a gigantic area. They form thickened branches with brief nodes. There are countless of them examples of rhizomes that will support us understand it all better.
For this reason, in this article we will tell you about the main examples of rhizomes and their main characteristics.
Examples of rhizomes and their properties
Rhizomes are considered underground stems along with bulbs, tubers and rhizomes. The underground shoots store nutrients in them, so they also serve as reserve organs when challenging seasons such as winter begin.
Depending on growth and branching, rhizomes can be divided into coaxial and 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.
With a unipodial rhizome, our terminal buds grow indefinitely as a rhizome. Axillary buds produce up-to-date shoots. Generally, is an invasive plant or weed. A rhizome is a vegetative reproductive system common to many plants such as lilies and ginger.
The rhizomes can be divided into pieces containing buds and grown individually. Rooted plants are perennials that lose their above-ground parts in colder climates but survive underground because 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 aleppo weed sorghum or johnson grass, bermuda grass 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 lines of hierarchical subordination, that is: It has a base or root that causes many consequences, and each element that intervenes can 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 up-to-date shoots or survive the winter in a process called vegetative reproduction.
Farmers they operate asexual reproduction to lateral propagate plants such as hops, ginger, and several species of grasses. Some rhizomes are also edible or used as a spice, such as ginger and turmeric.
Rhizomes are the vegetative reproductive system common to many plants such as splendens, canna, calla, lily, and ginger. The rhizomes can be divided into blocks containing at least one bud and planted individually. Rhizomes can be divided into two different types depending on the type of branch on which they occur.
In the case of rhizomes, propagation is done by cutting or dividing the rhizome into sections, each of which can produce up-to-date shoots. Because rhizomes store a gigantic amount of nutrients and are susceptible to adventitious roots, it is not challenging to grow up-to-date plants.
Each part removed for propagation usually consists of several internodes and must have a vegetative bud or meristem. Generally, parts of the rhizome can be transplanted directly to the desired location.
When replanting, the leaves should be cut off. The rhizomes divide before the end or beginning of the growing season, i.e. in delayed summer, autumn or early spring. If you divide them in early summer, parts of the rhizome will form roots and take root before winter.
examples of rhizomes
Plants that reproduce by rhizomes are perennials, which include:
Revive
It is one of the most popular root crops from the ginger family due to its numerous uses and properties.
Grass or white grass
The grass has slender rhizomes.
Reed from India
It is a tropical plant and despite having rhizomes that facilitate this its development and growth, maintenance and protection require a lot of attention and care.
demand
Mint is one of the most valuable plants due to its unique properties, smell and taste, it has rhizomes like ginger.
lily
Lilies are root crops with stout, leafy stems that allow them to survive extreme temperatures and harsh winters.
Seal of Solomon
Is characterised by presence of tubular white flowers. Its growth and development requires a gigantic amount of nutrients, so the presence of rhizomes promotes its absorption, storage and processing.
Bamboo
All bamboos reproduce via rhizomes and are particularly popular in horticulture because they 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 it does not serve as the main organ for absorbing water and nutrients. Importantly, rhizomes are filamentous cell structures present in the sporophytes of some algae, gametophytes, and lower vascular plants.
Roots are plant organs, usually underground, without leaves, that perform the functions of absorption, binding and storage; rhizomes are related structures roots found in plants. Rhizomes occur in mushrooms, bryophytes and ferns.
The vegetative bodies of fungi and bryophytes are indistinguishable in terms of roots, stems and leaves. The shape and function of the rhizome depend on the species and type of substrate. Rhizomes of organisms living on muddy substrates often have intricate branching.
In contrast, rhizomes of organisms living on sandy substrates are tuberous and very pliantsuch as sea pens, which can drive the entire body into the substrate as the rhizomes shrink.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the main examples of existing rhizomes and their characteristics.