Stolons?

[Roy Herold]

At 8:30 AM -0500 12/23/98, Greg Ruckert is rumored to have typed:


> I was under the impression that a stolon is a " slender branch" ALONG THE
> GROUND that takes root at the tip and develops a new plant.

My American reference says a STOLON is "A slender stem above or below
ground which produces a new plant at its tip." Perhaps the problem is in
the varying definitions of 'along', one of which is 'progressively through'
in addition to 'beside or on'.

I also see that rhizomes are defined as horizontal, underground rootstocks.
In my mind, these persist from season to season, while the stolons wither
away after the new plant at the tip has been establishes. Furthermore, I
tend to think of rhizomes as rooting along their length, while stolons only
root at the tip where the new plant develops.

>From my non-botanist perspective, I think it is safe to keep using our
current terminology. Most everyone seems to know what we're talking about
when we use the term 'stolon'. Comments/corrections welcome.

--Roy