[Arisaema-l] Arisaema root structure

[Erick Adams]

Arisaema taxonomist Jin Murata published a paper called Diversity in the Stem Morphology of Arisaema.I have not read the paper proper but the opening abstract refers to the pertinent underground bits as an "abbreviated subterranean stem". I think that's a good way to put it so we don't have to figure out where a tuber begins, a corm ends and to what degree they are rhizotamous. Hoozah. It also provides a mildly amusing acronym for making bad Arisaema jokes.  Erick  Zone 6 - Rhode Island, USA   Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:58:44 +0100
From: petersirises at gmail.com
To: arisaema-l at science.uu.nl
Subject: [Arisaema-l] Arisaema root structure

What is the botanical term for the storage organ on an Arisaema please?


I think of it as a tuber which is a swollen root such as a potato has, but a potato is a dicot. Is the 'tuber' root or stem? Were it stem then surely it would count as a rhizome -as with a bearded Iris?  Others here are calling it a corm, I associate corms with Irids and regard them as stems surrounded by compressed leaves.

An article by Tony Avant refers to it as a pseudo tuber...


Peter (UK) 		 	   		  
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