A short, thick, underground stem that stores food and produces new shoots and roots. Unlike bulbs, corms are solid throughout and are found in plants like crocuses and gladioli.
From Greek 'kormos' meaning 'trunk of a tree with branches lopped off,' from 'keirein' meaning 'to cut.' This reflects the corm's appearance as a shortened, swollen stem base.
Corms are like underground tree trunks compressed into compact storage units! Each year, the old corm is used up as the plant grows, while a new corm forms on top, creating a natural stacking system that gradually moves the plant upward through the soil.
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