Geophytes

Geophytes

The term geophytes refers to a grouping which, according to Raunkjaer’s classification for biological form, includes perennial vascular plants that overcome the adverse season through underground organs, consisting of underground buds, cauline or root tubers, bulbs or root-buds .
Geophytes are therefore plants whose survival organ is underground, such as bulbs, rhizomes or tubers. These plants are able to resist adverse conditions, such as cold winters or summer droughts, as they have developed energy and nutrient conservation mechanisms in the underground part. When environmental conditions are favorable, geophytes can produce flowers and leaves for a short period of time.
Geophytes are further divided into:
– G bulb – Bulbous geophytes: plants whose perennial organ is a bulb from which, every year, both flowers and leaves arise;
– G par – Parasitic geophytes: perennial plants that live at the expense of other plants, from which they take sap with specific organs;
– G rad – Gem-rooted geophytes: these are plants with underground perennial organs that bear the buds from which the aerial part reforms every year;
– G rhiz – Rhizomatous geophytes: plants with a particular underground stem, called rhizome, which every year emits adventitious roots and stems belong to this category.
– G par – Parasitic geophytes: they are perennial plants with underground buds that show specific organs to feed on the sap of other plants.