A long, horizontal stem that grows along the ground surface, producing new plants at its nodes. Runners are a type of stolon that remains above ground, commonly seen in strawberries and spider plants.
From Old English 'rinnan' meaning 'to run, flow, or go quickly.' The term 'runner' reflects how these stems appear to 'run' across the ground, rapidly extending the plant's reach.
Runners are like nature's extension cords, carrying energy and nutrients from the mother plant to establish baby plants at a distance! This strategy allows plants to quickly claim territory and escape competition, creating living carpets across forest floors and meadows.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.