What is the Difference Between Bulb and Rhizome?

The main difference between bulbs and rhizomes lies in their structure and growth habits. Here are the key differences between the two:

• Structure: Bulbs are underground modified buds with fleshy scale-like leaves surrounding a bud, while rhizomes are modified, underground stems that grow horizontally.
• Growth: Rhizomes grow horizontally below the soil surface, forming roots from the bottom and sending shoots upwards, with buds forming at different parts along the structure. Bulbs, on the other hand, do not grow horizontally.
• Food Storage: Both bulbs and rhizomes store nutrients for the plant, but they are structured differently. Rhizomes store nutrients in their modified, swollen stem-like structure, while bulbs store nutrients in their fleshy leaves.
• Propagation: Both bulbs and rhizomes can give rise to new plants and play a role in vegetative propagation of plants. However, bulbs have scales, while rhizomes do not. True bulbs produce stems from the base of the bulb and survive from year to year, while rhizomes have growth buds for next year's leaves and flowers.

Examples of plants that grow from bulbs include tulips, lilies, and daffodils, while examples of plants that grow from rhizomes include irises, canna lilies, and calla lilies.

Comparative Table: Bulb vs Rhizome

Here is a table comparing the differences between bulbs and rhizomes:

A bulb is an underground modified bud with a reduced stem and fleshy, scale-like leaves surrounding a bud. Bulbs store food in their fleshy leaves or leaf bases. Examples of bulbs include onion, garlic, tulip, crocus, freesia, and gladiolus.

A rhizome is a well-developed underground stem with an irregular or flattened shape. Rhizomes grow horizontally and store food in their entire stem. They have nodes and internodes, and new plants can grow from these nodes and internodes. Examples of rhizomes include ginger, turmeric, hops, asparagus, lotus, canna lilies, irises, and lily-of-the-valley.