plant bulb
An underground storage structure made of a short stem surrounded by fleshy leaf bases or scales.
True tunicate bulb of a garden tulip (Tulipa gesneriana)
All languages
- English
- plant bulb
- Norwegian
- planteløk
- Japanese
- 鱗茎 — りんけい — rinkei
- Korean
- 비늘줄기 — bineuljulgi
- Spanish
- bulbo
- French
- bulbe
- German
- Pflanzenzwiebel
Illustrations are AI-generated and translations are undergoing language review.
Reference sources
- UC Agriculture and Natural Resources — bulbs have a compressed basal plate, fleshy scales, a central flower bud, and roots from the bottom
- University of Florida IFAS — a true bulb has a compressed basal plate and a bud enclosed by thick fleshy bulb scales; tulips have a dry tunic
- Illinois Extension — a true bulb contains a miniature plant surrounded by fleshy scales attached to a basal plate