rhizome

(zōm′)

noun

a creeping stem lying, usually horizontally, at or under the surface of the soil and differing from a root in having scale leaves, bearing leaves or aerial shoots near its tips, and producing roots from its undersurface

Origin: ModL rhizoma < Gr rhizōma < rhizousthai, to take root < rhiza, root

Related Forms:

See rhizome in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
A horizontal, usually underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Also called rootstalk, rootstock.

Origin:

Origin: Greek rhizōma, mass of roots

Origin: , from rhizoun, to cause to take root

Origin: , from rhiza, root; see wrād- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • rhi·zomˈa·tous (-zŏmˈə-təs, -zōˈmə-) adjective
  • rhi·zomˈic adjective

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