cormels

Cormels are small secondary storage organs produced by some geophytic plants as a form of vegetative reproduction. They are diminutive corms that form around or on the surface of the main corm. A cormel is a miniature version of a corm, which is a swollen underground stem that stores nutrients and supports seasonal regrowth.

Formation and morphology: Cormels arise from meristematic tissue on the parent corm, often in clusters. They are typically smaller than the main corm and may have a lighter tunic. Some species produce cormels annually as part of their growth cycle, while others form them only under certain seasonal conditions or stresses.

Ecology and horticulture: Cormels function as a form of clonal propagation, enabling local spread and rapid reestablishment after disturbance. They store nutrients and can become flowering plants after sufficient growth.

Propagation and cultivation: In cultivation, mature cormels can often be separated and planted to grow new plants. The timing and method vary by species, but gardeners commonly harvest or detach cormels when they are well developed and plant them in shallow soil to form new corms in the next season.

Examples and related terms: Gladiolus and Crocus genera are well known for producing cormels around the main corm. Cormels are distinct from bulbs; they are formed from the stem tissue of a corm rather than from leaf scales, and they germinate into new corms rather than true bulbs.

Name: The term cormel derives from corm with the diminutive suffix -el.