Bulbs and corms

Bulbs and corms are underground storage organs that plants use to survive adverse conditions and regrow each season. A bulb, like an onion, is layered and composed of fleshy scales attached to a central stem, storing nutrients to support new growth. Corms are solid, with a papery covering, and are swollen stems that store energy. Both structures enable plants such as lilies (bulbs) and crocuses (corms) to survive winter or droughts, then sprout anew. The main difference is that bulbs are layered and fleshy, while corms are solid and stem-like, with each serving as a nutrient reserve for the plant.