Another stoloniferous species

[Jim McClements, Dover, DE z6]

Several years ago I bought a tuber of A. robustum from Heronswood (accession
#DJH 322). Last year it produced seeds, which were planted in November and
have just completed their second cold cycle. When I took them out of the
refrigerator today for potting up, most of them had developed small stolons,
which I had not seen when they were put into the cold.

I know that the whole robustum/japonicum/serratum taxonomy is a bit confused
(at least in my brain!), but has anyone seen stoloniferous forms of robustum?

Also, do stolons form normally during a dormant phase? I would have thought
that they would develop during the growth period. Maybe I just missed them
when I bagged the tubers for refrigeration, or just assumed that they were
roots that hadn't shriveled up yet. These are not roots, but appear to arise
from the lower part of the tuber.

Aside from that, Merry Christmas to all!

Jim McClements, Dover DE (60F yesterday, 20F tonight)