1. Stems Part III
One potato, two potato….

2. Types of underground stems
Can you think of something that you would call an underground stem besides bulbs and corms?

3. Tubers
Can you see anything that they have in common?

4. Definition
A solid enlarged, horizontal, shortened, stem, usually borne below ground.
Tubers are enlarged portions of the roots

5. How are they different from corms and bulbs?
You won’t see tubers directly under the stems like in bulbs or corms
They are spread out in the root system

6. Propagation Tubers can also be identified by the presence of eyes.
Each eye can produce a new plant by developing a new stem and roots.
The tuber is storage organ for food for the new plants.

7. Lets propagate some potatoes

8. Taro is often listed as a tuber, but it is not. Why?
What’s the difference in how they grow?

9. Some common tubers
Sweet Potato
Jerusalem Artichoke
Dahlias

10. Homework
Find 5 new examples (do not include what you have learned today) of tubers edible and 2-3 decorative.
Read Unit 9, Reiley & Shry, pages 96 – 101
Answer questions 3,5,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14 on pages 102 & 103.