tuberous

Tuberous is an adjective derived from tuber, the term used for a swollen, fleshy storage organ. In botanical usage, tuberous describes plants or plant parts that form tubers or tuber-like storage organs. Tubers may be true tubers, formed from swollen stems such as potato tubers that store carbohydrates, or tuberous roots, formed from enlarged roots such as the sweet potato. The term also appears in horticulture to describe plants that propagate by tubers, including varieties of tuberous begonia.

In botany and horticulture, tubers serve as a perennating structure, helping plants survive adverse seasons by storing nutrients. True tubers arise from stem tissue and often have formed scars where new shoots can emerge, while tuberous roots are modified root systems that store reserves. Tubers are frequently used for vegetative propagation and can be intentionally cultivated for ornamental or culinary purposes.

In medicine, the term tuberous appears in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder characterized by the development of benign tumors in multiple organs and by cortical tubers in the brain. The name reflects the tuber-like growths observed in affected tissues and the broader theme of abnormal nodular formations.

Overall, tuberous denotes a plant or feature that resembles, or functions as, a tuber—an enlarged storage organ. Its usage spans botany and horticulture, with additional medical context in reference to diseases involving tuber-like growths.