Bulbs in Plants
Bulbs are a type of underground storage organ found in some plants. They consist of a short stem with fleshy, overlapping leaves or leaf bases that store food reserves. Bulbs are used by plants as a way to survive adverse conditions such as drought or winter. They are also a means of asexual reproduction for many plants.
Types of Bulbs
There are several types of bulbs, including true bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes.
- True Bulbs: These bulbs have layers of modified leaves surrounding a central shoot. Examples include tulips and daffodils.
- Corms: Corms are solid, enlarged underground stems. They are often covered with papery tunics. Examples include crocuses and gladioli.
- Tubers: Tubers are swollen, underground stems that store food. Examples include potatoes and anemones.
- Rhizomes: Rhizomes are creeping, underground stems that grow horizontally. Examples include irises and lilies.
Functions of Bulbs
Bulbs serve several important functions for plants:
- Storage: They store food reserves, usually in the form of starch, which can be used during periods of dormancy or to support rapid growth.
- Reproduction: Many plants can reproduce vegetatively from bulbs, producing new bulbs that are genetically identical to the parent plant.
- Survival: Bulbs help plants survive adverse environmental conditions, allowing them to regrow when conditions become favorable again.
Study Guide Questions
.◂Biology Worksheets and Study Guides High School. Nucleic acids and protein synthesis
Worksheet/Answer key
Nucleic acids and protein synthesis 
Worksheet/Answer key
Nucleic acids and protein synthesis Worksheet/Answer key
Nucleic acids and protein synthesis Worksheet/Answer key
Nucleic acids and protein synthesis Vocabulary/Answer key
Nucleic acids and protein synthesis Vocabulary/Answer key
Nucleic acids and protein synthesis Vocabulary/Answer key
Nucleic acids and protein synthesis
Worksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyThe resources above cover the following skills:
LIFE SCIENCE (NGSS)
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Students who demonstrate understanding can:
Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
Students who demonstrate understanding can:
Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.