bulbils

Bulbils are small, bulb-like structures produced by some plants as a means of asexual (vegetative) reproduction. Unlike true bulbs, bulbils are typically not underground storage organs; they form in leaf axils, on the flowering stalk, or along other vegetative structures. When separated, each bulbil can develop into a new, genetically identical plant.

Bulbil formation is often triggered by environmental cues such as drought, heat, or nutrient status, and involves specialized tissues that accumulate resources and contain meristematic cells capable of growth. Bulbils enable rapid population increase without seeds and can contribute to the spread of a plant in favorable conditions.

In Allium species such as onions and garlic, bulblets or bulblets form on flowering stalks or in leaf axils and can be separated to propagate clonal plants. The tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium) is well known for producing bulbils along its flowering stem; these bulbils detach, fall to the ground, and root to form new plants. The air-potato yam (Dioscorea bulbifera) forms aerial bulbils on the vine, which mature into independent tuber-like structures capable of producing new vines.

Bulbils are distinct from true bulbs, which are underground storage organs composed of concentric layers of fleshy scales (as in onions or tulips). Some plants employ both strategies, producing true bulbs in one season and bulbils in another.

From a horticultural perspective, bulbils can simplify propagation, allowing clonal propagation of desirable traits. However, they may also contribute to dispersal and unintended spread if released into natural ecosystems.