These pages will cover:

• Page 1 - What is a bulb?
  
• Page 2 - Why do some plants have bulbs?
  
• Page 2 - Where do bulbs come from?
  
• Page 3 - When do you plant bulbs and how do you care for them?
  
• Page 3 - Who do you ask when you have a bulb question?

What is a bulb?

A flower bulb is really an underground storehouse and flower factory.
Within the bulb is just about everything the plant will need to sprout and flower at the right time.
Split a bulb in half and you will see this clearly.

 

This drawing is from Plant Propagation by Philip Browse, Simon and Schuster 1979

 

DRAW a picture of an onion.

Have an adult cut one in half for you.

Drawing is a great way to learn to see like a scientist. A scientist has to observe details.

 

 

 

 

Yellow onions are a common sight in most people's kitchens. Onions are said to be good for your health.

 

Parts of the bulb have special names. Scientists and gardeners need to know the correct vocabulary so they can talk clearly with others about the bulbs. Cornell University is famous for its plant scientists (botanists).
This drawing from De Hertogh, A.A. and M. Le Nard. 1993. The Physiology of Flower Bulbs. Elsevier Scientific Publisher. Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

In the basal center portion of the bulb are the leaves cradling a baby bud. (In many species, this bud already has the appearance of a flower while still in the bulb!) Surrounding the bud is a white, meaty substance called the scales. In true bulbs, it is these scales which contain all the food the bulb will need to flower and thrive. Anchoring the scales and the floral stalk which holds the bud is the basal plate. This plate at the bottom of the bulb also holds the roots of the plant. The entire package is protected by a thin outer skin called the tunic. bulb.com

Did you observe in the drawing above that there are two kinds of bulbs?

The TUNICATE bulb up above is like the onion. What people often call the "onion skin" is really the TUNIC.
When you cut an onion and observe all the layers you are looking at the SCALES.

Scales are leaves that the plant has evolved into storage areas for its food.

 

 

This bulb is a scaley bulb.

If you use your imagination a little you can see how the bulb looks like it has fish scales! While they are a different SHAPE from the scales of the tunicate bulb, these scales of the scaly bulb do the same thing, they store food.

The drawing on the left side shows the scaly bulb of a lily cut in half.
You can see the stem growing up from the middle of the bulb.

 

 

by Mrs. Craib who has spring fever. Feb. 2000