Ausläufer

Ausläufer, also known as runners or stolons, are specialized stems that grow horizontally along the surface of the soil or just below it. These modified stems are a common method of vegetative reproduction in many plant species. The primary function of an ausläufer is to facilitate the spread and colonization of new areas by the plant.

Typically, an ausläufer will emerge from the base of a parent plant and extend outwards. At nodes along the ausläufer, small roots will develop downwards into the soil, anchoring the new growth. Simultaneously, a bud at the tip of the ausläufer, or sometimes at an axil, will grow upwards, forming a new independent plantlet. Once this new plantlet is established with its own roots and foliage, the ausläufer that connects it to the parent plant may wither and die, effectively separating the offspring.

Many familiar plants utilize ausläufer for propagation. Examples include strawberries, spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), many grasses, and some types of mint. This method of reproduction allows plants to quickly cover ground and establish a colony, which can be advantageous in competitive environments. The production of ausläufer is often influenced by environmental factors such as light availability and soil moisture.