stengelknoller

Stengelknoller, also known as stem tubers, are enlarged underground stems that function as storage organs for plants. Unlike root tubers, which are modified roots, stengelknoller are derived from the stem, typically growing horizontally along the soil surface or just below it. Their development involves the swelling of a stem segment, often at the tip of a stolon or rhizome.

These specialized structures serve to store essential nutrients, primarily starch, which the plant can utilize during periods of dormancy, such as winter or drought, and for vegetative propagation. The surface of a stengelknoller is usually characterized by nodes from which buds or "eyes" emerge. These buds are capable of developing into new shoots and roots, allowing the parent plant to reproduce asexually.

Common examples of plants that produce stengelknoller include the potato (Solanum tuberosum), where the familiar potato itself is a stengelknoller, and Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus). Their ability to store energy and facilitate reproduction makes stengelknoller a vital adaptation for the survival and proliferation of many plant species, and they are also significant food sources for humans and animals.