The bulb's leaf bases, also known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but

contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of
the bulb is a vegetative growing point or an unexpanded flowering shoot. The base is
formed by a reduced stem, and plant growth occurs from this basal plate. Roots emerge
from the underside of the base, and new stems and leaves from the upper
side. Tunicate bulbs have dry, membranous outer scales that protect the continuous
lamina of fleshy scales.[2] Species in the genera Allium, Hippeastrum, Narcissus,
and Tulipa all have tunicate bulbs. Non-tunicate bulbs, such
as Lilium and Fritillaria species, lack the protective tunic and have looser scales.[3]

Bulbous plant species cycle through vegetative and reproductive growth stages; the
bulb grows to flowering size during the vegetative stage and the plant flowers during the
reproductive stage. Certain environmental conditions are needed to trigger the transition
from one stage to the next, such as the shift from a cold winter to spring. [2] Once the
flowering period is over, the plant enters a foliage period of about six weeks during
which time the plant absorbs nutrients from the soil and energy from the sun for setting
flowers for the next year. Vegetative bulbs may be planted like seeds and will sprout
into plants. Bulbs dug up before the foliage period is completed will not bloom the
following year but then should flower normally in subsequent years.[4]

Plants that form bulbs

Plants that form underground storage organs, including bulbs as well
as tubers and corms, are called geophytes.
Some epiphytic orchids (family Orchidaceae) form above-ground storage organs
called pseudobulbs, that superficially resemble bulbs.[citation needed]

Nearly all plants that form true bulbs are monocotyledons, and include:[4]

 Amaryllis, Crinum, Hippeastrum, Narcissus, and several other members of the

amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae. This includes onion, garlic, and other alliums,
members of the Amaryllid subfamily Allioideae.
 Lily, tulip, and many other members of the lily family Liliaceae.
 Two groups of Iris species, family Iridaceae: subgenus Xiphium (the "Dutch" irises)
and subgenus Hermodactyloides (the miniature "rock garden" irises).
The only eudicot plants that produce true bulbs are just a few species in the
genus Oxalis, such as Oxalis latifolia.[5][6]

Bulbil
Main article: bulbil
A bulbil is a small bulb, and may also be called a bulblet, bulbet, or bulbel.[7]

Small bulbs can develop or propagate a large bulb. If one or several moderate-sized
bulbs form to replace the original bulb, they are called renewal bulbs.[7] Increase
bulbs are small bulbs that develop either on each of the leaves inside a bulb, or else on
the end of small underground stems connected to the original bulb.[7]

Some lilies, such as the tiger lily Lilium lancifolium, form small bulbs, called bulbils, in
their leaf axils. Several members of the onion family, Alliaceae, including Allium
sativum (garlic), form bulbils in their flower heads, sometimes as the flowers fade, or
even instead of the flowers (which is a form of apomixis). The so-called tree
onion (Allium × proliferum) forms small onions which are large enough for pickling.[citation
needed]

Some ferns, such as the hen-and-chicken fern, produce new plants at the tips of the
fronds' pinnae that are sometimes referred to as bulbils.

Bulbils form in the leaf axils of Lilium lancifolium

Wild garlic (Allium vineale) bulbils sprouting

"Tree onions" form clusters of small bulbs instead of flowers

See also
 List of flower bulbs
References
 1. Bell, A.D. 1997. Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology. Oxford
University Press, Oxford, U.K.
2. Mishra, S.R. (2005). Plant Reproduction. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 120–
125. ISBN 978-81-7141-955-5.
3. Ellis, Barbara W. (2001). Bulbs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-618-
06890-6.
4. "Advances in bulb crops" (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Andhra University,
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
5. Hartmann, Hudson Thomas; Dale E. Kester (2002). Hartmann and Kester's Plant
Propagation: Principles and Practices (7 ed.). Prentice Hall. p. 561. ISBN 978-0-13-
679235-2.
6. Oberlander, K. C.; Emshwiller, E.; Bellstedt, D.U. & Dreyer, L.L. (2009). "A model of
bulb evolution in the eudicot genus Oxalis (Oxalidaceae)". Molecular Phylogenetics &
Evolution. 51 (1): 54–63. Bibcode:2009MolPE..51...54O. doi:10.1016/
[Link].2008.11.022. PMID 19070669.
7. Bell, A.D. (1997). Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology. Oxford,
U.K.: Oxford University Press.

Further reading
 Coccoris, Patricia (2012) The Curious History of the Bulb Vase. Published by Cortex
Design. ISBN 978-0956809612

Wikimedia Commons has media related to

Bulbs.

v
t
e
Botany

 History
 Outline

Subdisciplines Archaeobotany
Astrobotany
Bryology
Dendrology
Ethnobotany
Paleobotany
Phycology
Phytochemistry
Phytogeography
 Geobotany
Plant anatomy
Plant ecology
Plant intelligence
Plant pathology
Plant physiology

Algae
Archaeplastida
Bryophyte
Non-vascular plants
Vascular plants
Plant groups
Fern
Lycophyte
Spermatophytes
Gymnosperm
Angiosperm

Plant anatomy Cell wall

 Plant Phragmoplast
morphology Plant cells Plastid
(glossary) Plasmodesma
Vacuole

Cork
Ground tissue
Mesophyll
Meristem
Tissues
Storage organs
Vascular tissue
Vascular bundle
Wood

Vegetative Bulb
Root
Rhizoid
Rhizome
 Shoot
Bud
Leaf
Cataphyll
Petiole
Sessility
Stem

Reproductive Archegonium
(incl. Flower) Antheridium
Androecium
Pollen
Stamen
Anther
Filament
Staminode
Tapetum
Flower
Aestivation
Flower development
Floral diagram
Floral formula
Floral symmetry
Whorl
Fruit
Anatomy
Berry
Capsule
Nut
Pyrena
Seed
Dispersal
Endosperm
Gametophyte
Gynandrium
 Gynoecium
Carpel
Ovary
Locule
Ovule
Stigma
Style
Hypanthium (Floral cup)
Inflorescence
Bract
Pedicellate
Raceme
Umbel
Perianth
Tepal
Petal
Sepal
Plant embryo
Receptacle
Sporophyll
Sporophyte

Cuticle
Epicuticular wax
Epidermis
Surface
Nectar
structures
Stoma
Thorns, spines, and prickles
Trichome

Plant physiology Aleurone

Materials Apical dominance
Bulk flow
Cellulose
Nutrition
Photosynthesis
 Chlorophyll
Phytomelanin
Plant hormones
Respiration
Gas Exchange
Cellular respiration
Sap
Starch
Sugar
Transpiration
Turgor pressure

Habit
Cushion plants
Rosettes
Shrubs
Prostrate shrubs
Subshrubs
Plant growth
Succulent plants
and habit
Trees
Vines
Lianas
Herbaceous plants
Secondary growth
Woody plants

Reproduction Alternation of generations

 Evolution Double fertilization
 Ecology Evolutionary development
Evolutionary history
timeline
Flora
Germination
Pollination
Artificial
Pollinators
 Pollen tube
Self
Sporangium
Microsporangia
Microspore
Megasporangium
Megaspore
Spore

Biological classification
Botanical nomenclature
Botanical name
Correct name
Author citation
International Code of Nomenclature (ICN)
ICN for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP)
Cultivated plant taxonomy
Citrus taxonomy
Plant taxonomy
Cultigen
Cultivar
Group
Grex
History of plant systematics
Herbarium
International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT)
Plant taxonomy systems
Taxonomic rank

Agronomy
Floriculture
Practice Forestry
Horticulture
Phytochemical

 Lists Botanical terms

 Related Botanists
by author abbreviation
 Botanical expeditions
Individual trees
Oldest trees
Superlative trees
Tallest trees
Plants

 Category

Germany
United States
France
Authority control databases:
BnF data
National
Czech Republic
Latvia
Israel
Categories:
 Plant morphology
 Garden plants
 Plant reproduction