eipalkokasvit

Eipalkokasvit is a broad term used in some botanical contexts to refer to plants that produce corms. A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat. It is a type of modified stem, similar in appearance to a bulb, but structurally different. Unlike bulbs which consist of layers of modified leaves, corms are primarily made of stem tissue with thin, papery leaves that often wither away after the growing season.

Plants that utilize corms for propagation and survival are found in various families. Examples include the Gladiolus, Crocus, and Freesia genera. These plants typically store nutrients within the corm to fuel new growth in the following season. New corms, often called cormels, can develop from buds on the parent corm, allowing for vegetative reproduction. The size and shape of corms can vary significantly between species, influencing their above-ground characteristics such as flower type and leaf structure. Cultivation of eipalkokasvit often involves planting the corms in well-draining soil at a depth appropriate for the species, with many benefiting from a period of dormancy.