Pseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a
In some species, it is hardly swollen at all and looks like a normal stem with many leaves while at the other extreme, some genera such as Bulbophyllum have single, spherical pseudobulbs with one (or two) leaves at the apex of each. Whether cane-like (with many joints) or spherical (with one or few joints), they are all produced from a long-lived creeping stem called a rhizome which may itself be climbing or pendulous. The pseudobulbs are relatively short lived (1–5 years), but are continually produced from the growing tip of the rhizome and may persist for years after its last leaves senesce.
The term pseudobulb is used to distinguish the above-ground storage organ from other storage organs derived from stems that were underground, namely corms or true bulbs, a combination of an underground stem and storage leaves. Strictly speaking, there is no clear distinction between the pseudobulb and corm structures.[2]
References
- ^ Hew, C.S., and J.W.H. Yong. 2004. The Physiology of Tropical Orchids in Relation to the Industry. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. pp. 13-15.
- ^ a b Dressler, R.L. 1993. Phylogeny and Classification of the Orchid Family. Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press. p. 19.
External links
- Media related to Pseudobulb at Wikimedia Commons