Roots and Shoots (stolon, rhizome, nodes)

In general, roots are below the ground and connect to shoots (stems) that are above the ground. However, it gets more interesting than that, as you’ll see here.

Iris pseudoacorus rhizome and roots by Jon Richfield

Roots hold the plant in place and take in water and nutrients. Except for a few plants that grow in the air, such as some orchids, roots grow in the ground.

Roots connect to shoots (stems) that have nodes, places where new branches, leaves and flowers grow. The most familiar kind of shoot is a stem that grows upward. However, shoots can also branch off laterally, either just above or just below the ground.

Shoots that grow below the ground are called rhizomes. At each underground node they can create a new shoot (stem) that grows upward. New stems grow new roots below them. This pattern of growth creates colonies of many plants growing close to each other. Lawns are an example of this.

Beardless Wild Rye – photo by Wilde Legard

The rye grasses above are connected underground by rhizomes. They form a network that holds the ground together at the water’s edge.

Similar to rhizomes are stolons that are shoots that grow just above and along the ground. At their nodes they can send down roots and send up new stems.

Pacific Potentilla – photo by Steve Matson

The plant above grows in sandy soils. Notice the red stolons that help it establish a colony in difficult conditions.

Want more? See Wikipedia.

Corrections/Comments: bruce@PlantID.net