Basic Knowledge of Bulb Flowers
This article provides an introduction to bulb flowers, including their basic knowledge, which will surely be of help to you. Let's learn about it together!
Basic Knowledge of Bulb Flowers [What are Bulbs] This is just a general introduction, and there is no need to distinguish them clearly. You will understand when you have planted them. If you still feel confused after reading for a long time, you can choose to: 1. Disregard me. 2. Reply to ask me...
In fact, the concept of bulbs is not very scientific, and they should be divided into:
1. Bulbs (bulb) - Layer upon layer, can be peeled like an onion
2. Corms (corm) - Solid, with shiny skin
3. Tubers (tuber) - Irregular lumps, can sprout many buds at the same time, without shiny protective skin
4. Tuberous Roots (tuberous root) - Like swollen roots, with special shapes, easy to identify
5. Rhizomes and fleshy roots (perennial roots)
Strictly speaking, the last category is not considered a narrow sense of bulbous plants. Their function is to store nutrients, help plants survive adverse external environments (by dormancy), and have certain reproductive functions. Therefore, bulbous plants generally have one or several dormant periods during their growth process.
1. Bulbs
This is a type that everyone is very familiar with, consisting of a bulbous disk at the base and a series of bulb scales wrapping around the outside. The bulb scales can form a complete circle (such as onions, Hippeastrum) or separate pieces (such as lilies, Fritillaria). Most bulbs are wrapped in dry outer skin, which can be stored for a long time in dry, well-ventilated, and cool places (dormant period placed in a ventilated, dry, and cool place), but a few do not have protective outer skin and cannot be stored dry (such as lilies, Fritillaria, attention should be paid to maintaining humidity during the dormant period).
Common bulbous plants include onions (including Allium plants such as flowering onions), narcissus, lilies, garlic, hyacinths, tulips, Hippeastrum, Zephyranthes, Fritillaria, Crocus, bulbous irises, oxalis (mainly Amaryllidaceae and Liliaceae). The bulbs' buds grow from the bulbous disk, protected by the bulb scales, and a bulb may contain multiple dormant buds, which can differentiate into flower buds, leaf buds, or even develop into small bulbs.
Therefore, bulbous plants are good at dividing and propagating. The advantage of bulbs is that even if the outer bulb scales rot, they can be easily cleaned and saved. Moreover, many varieties can propagate through scales or cut bulbs.
Hippeastrum Bulb
Cross-section, labeled with flower bud, leaf, bulbous disk, and bulb scale
Lily bulb, with unprotected scales separated
2. Corms
This type is often mistaken for bulbs, but they do not have layers of bulb scales, are solid inside, and the leaves are reduced to protective outer skin. Corms show layers of short internodes and an obvious apical bud, with roots growing from below. Small bulbs often grow around the roots. The mother bulb of most cormous plants only survives for one year, during which the nutrients are exhausted, becoming an empty shell, and the next year's growth starts from the daughter bulbs; common cormous plants include gladioli, saffron, freesias, and Iris (mainly Iridaceae), as well as Sagittaria. They can also tolerate dry storage and easily rot in moist conditions.
Gladiolus, can you see the difference from bulbs?
Freesia, this difference is even more obvious, with no scales visible
Saffron, old bulbs and new bulbs
3. Tubers
Often mistaken for roots, they are usually irregular in shape, with many bud points on the surface, and can sprout many buds at the same time. Common tuberous plants include begonias, cyclamen, potatoes, tuberous begonias, caladiums, and arum. Usually, whether it is the plant itself or the tuber, they are not tolerant of extreme dryness. There is no need to repot during the dormant period; just store them in the original pot, and water occasionally during the dormant period.
Begonia, tubers are usually a black mass
Arum
Cyclamen, the top is where leaf buds and flower buds form
4. Tuberous Roots
The distinction between tuberous roots and tubers is not very clear, but tuberous roots often look like dense, swollen roots, and even visible fibrous roots, with a rough epidermis that retains water, so they are stored dry during the dormant period and should not get wet. After the dormant period, there is often a water absorption process, during which rot can easily occur (especially Anemone and Ranunculus). Generally speaking, tuberous roots are drought-tolerant, but the plants they grow are not drought-tolerant (dahlias, Anemone, and Ranunculus are sensitive to water shortage). Common tuberous root plants include dahlias, sweet potatoes, Ranunculus, and Anemone. That is to say, keep the water sufficient during the growing period and completely dry during the dormant period.
On the left is freesia (corm), and on the right is the claw of Ranunculus (tuberous root)
Dahlia
5. Rhizomes and Fleshy Roots, etc.
Lilies of the valley, irises, ginger, daylilies, hostas, peonies, hydrangeas, and many other perennial root plants belong to this category. Most are not considered bulbous plants, and some do not even have a dormant period. They require moderate water, and they will wither due to too little water and rot due to too much water.
I estimate that by now, you may feel a bit confused...唉~ Let's do a test.
From left to right: begonia - lily - Anemone - dahlia, can you tell their categories?
Answer: Tuber, Bulb, Tuberous Root, Tuberous Root
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