Just What Is A Bulb?

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 14 (Supplement)

Just What Is A Bulb?

Bulbs following the formation of the hyacinth are said to be "tunicated" bulbs, and those following the formation of the lily are said to be "imbricated." From this'it is evident that snowdrops, daffodils, etc, which are similar in construction to the hyacinth, and all that possess the scale-like formation of the lily are genuine bulbs. In a strict sense the crocus, gladiolus, cyclamen and other fleshy root/of bulbous forms which have not the construction of either of the classes just described are not really bulbs but conns, but. having the exterior appearance of bulbs, they are commonly accepted as such. If the root, say, of a crocus is divided in any way, "whether from top to bottom or transversely from side

The term bulb is really applicable only to roots such as the hyacinth, which has several successive coats superimposed one over the other, and the lily, which is formed of scales growing one over the other, as tiles are placed on the roof of a house.

to side, it Avill be found that it is a fleshy root without any division whatever in the interior like the hyacinth, but consists of one mass throughout like the potato. It differs, however, from the potato in that the roots by which nourishment is drawn from the soil are sent forth anew each year from a ring or circular patch at the hase of the ibulb, and not from eyes, as in the potato, from which stalk and roots both proceed, the former in an upward direction and the latter downwards. Fleshy masses like the gladiolus and crocus are called corms to distinguish them from the tunicated bulb of the hyacinth and from the scaly bulb of the lily. Classes like the potato are called tubers.