Corms & Tubers

[Martyn Denney]

In message <970320104417_-2106990892 at emout17.mail.aol.com>, "McClements,
Jim" <JimMcClem at AOL.COM> writes
>Martyn et al
>
<snipped>
>Does anyone know another genus with a similar structure, and, if so, does the
>same question arise? (Martyn mentioned Cyclamen; is it really the same?)
> Perhaps arisaemas should have a name of their own? Torm or cuber doesn't
>seem to do it.
>
>Jim McClements

I can speak for Cyclamen - no they are not exactly the same.  Kit Grey-
Wilson, Brian Mathew, and the Cyclamen Society all definitely treat the
Cyclamen as being a tuber.  It is definately not annual, and grows in
size every year - in some species, after many years to over a foot in
diameter.  It does not have eyes like a potato (although some species -
such as C. purpurascens and C. graecum - have multiple flowering
points), and does not have offsets which detach as with an Arisaema.
Bryan & Griffiths (RHS Manual of Bulbs), describe a potato as a tuber
(annual) and a Cyclamen as a stem-tuber (perenial).

Some Cyclamen tubers are very woody or corky in appearance - not looking
anything like a potato.  Depending on species, the perenial roots emerge
either from below, the sides or the top.

However, a mushy Cyclamen tuber looks remarkably like a mushy Arisaema
tuber.  They are both starchy inside.

Since Cyclamen are off topic, that better be enough.  Anyone who wants
to know more, see the Cyclamen Society web pages:
http://www.denney.demon.co.uk/cyclamen.htm

Best wishes,
--
Martyn Denney
Farnborough, Hampshire, UK.