A continuously growing horizontal underground stem that puts out lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals. Compare with bulb (sense 1), corm.
More example sentences
- The plant is tough to stamp out because it develops a system of roots and rhizomes, horizontal underground stems that descend as far as six feet into the sand.
- In addition, shrub roots and rhizomes grow into above-ground gaps, making below-ground gaps smaller than above-ground gaps.
- Mucilages found in rhizomes, roots and seed endosperms may act primarily as energy reserves whereas foliar mucilages appear not to serve as storage carbohydrates.
mid 19th century: from Greek rhizōma, from rhizousthai 'take root', based on rhiza 'root'.
More definitions of rhizomeDefinition of rhizome in:
- The British & World English dictionary