corm

noun

(Gr. kormos: piece [of wood]) A fleshy, underground organ often rounded in shape but of no distinct characteristic shape or size in some species, formed by certain plants, e.g. crocus and gladiolus; it is filled with nutrients, is composed of two or more internodes and covered externally by a few thin membranous scales or cataphyllary leaves; it acts as a vegetative reproductive structure, and enables a plant to survive from one growing season to the next; it is actually a short swollen food-storing stem surrounded by protective scale leaves; one or more buds in the axils of scale leaves produce new foliage leaves and flowers in the subsequent season, using up the food stored in the stem. Cf. bulb.