Question

The stem of Turmeric is
(a)Corm
(b)Bulb
(c)Rhizome
(d)Tuber

Answer 1

Hint: It is an underground stem, which bears nodes and internodes and is fleshy due to the storage of food. It shows branching and is placed horizontally into the soil.

Complete answer:
Turmeric stem is an example of a rhizome. These give the appearance of sympodial axis rhizome, which means the lateral branches appear opposite to the leaves. The rhizome is also known as rootstock. Edible canna, ginger, and water lily are also rhizomes. The branching of rhizomes may be monopodial or sympodial.

Additional Information:
 -A corm is short, thick, and unbranched. The corm bears buds at its nodes. Alocasia, Gladiolus, Colocasia, Crocus, Colchicum, and Freesia are examples of the corm. A Corm is covered by thin sheathing leaves called scales.
-A bulb may be regarded as a short underground with a fleshy leaf base called scales. A bulb contains a reduced and disc-like stem. The discoidal shape of the bulb is convex or conical in shape that bears highly compressed internodes.
-Potato is an example of a tuber. When the underground stem becomes enlarged at the growing tips by the accumulation of stored food, commonly starch, it is called a tuber. In potato, several lenticels are present for gaseous exchange. Cyperus, Helianthus, Stachys are examples of tubers. In tubers, eye buds develop into small shoots, and from its base, adventitious roots develop.
So, the correct answer is, ‘Rhizome.’

Note: -Turmeric is yellow colored due to the presence of a compound called curcumin. It is a common Indian spice. The scientific name of turmeric is Curcuma longa.
-A bulb is of two types: tunicated and scaly. In the tunicated type, concentric layers are present and in scaly type, a series of angular scales are present.