– Relationship to perennating organ:
– Storage organs may act as perennating organs for plants to survive adverse periods in the life cycle.
– Perennating organs allow re-growth from buds when conditions become favorable again.
– Geophytes like bluebells and trilliums die back to underground storage organs during adverse periods.
– Deciduous trees regrow leaves from resting buds, acting as perennating organs in the Raunkiær classification.
– Succulents with water-storing leaves survive adverse conditions.
– Underground storage organ:
– True roots include storage taproots like carrots.
– Modified stems like bulbs (e.g., Lilium, Narcissus) act as storage organs.
– Other examples include corms (e.g., Crocus) and stem tubers (e.g., potato).
– Some ferns have storage hypocotyls for food storage.
– Classification of storage organs can be complex due to intermediates and combinations.
– Other storage organs:
– Succulents store moisture in specialized organs like leaf succulents.
– Leaf succulents have thickened leaves with water storage adaptations.
– Stem succulents like cacti have waxy-coated or hairy stems for water retention.
– Some succulents like Lithops have reduced leaves for water storage.
– Adaptations like ribbed bodies in cacti allow for water storage expansion.
– Notes and references:
– Storage organs serve as a means for plants to survive adverse conditions.
– The Raunkiær plant life-form classification defines underground storage organs.
– Technical nomenclature distinguishes true roots, modified stems, and other storage organs.
– Succulents are adapted to withstand drought through specialized storage mechanisms.
– Storage organs like bulbs, corms, and tubers are used for food storage.
A storage organ is a part of a plant specifically modified for storage of energy (generally in the form of carbohydrates) or water. Storage organs often grow underground, where they are better protected from attack by herbivores. Plants that have an underground storage organ are called geophytes in the Raunkiær plant life-form classification system. Storage organs often, but not always, act as perennating organs which enable plants to survive adverse conditions (such as cold, excessive heat, lack of light or drought).