A friend who is not a biologist tells you that she grows irises from iris roots. You explain to her that the "root" she is planting is not a root, but instead is called a rhizome. "Why?" she asked. You explain:

Question

A.  "A root grows vertically, not horizontally."
B.  "A rhizome has nodes and internodes and is really a modified stem that can exist underground."
C.  "A root stores nutrients, but rhizomes are underground stems that do not store nutrients."
D.  "A rhizome, although a modified stem, acts as a root does. In other words a rhizome is a stem-root combination."
E.  "A rhizome is a modified root that is able to grow leaves."

Answer 1

B.  "A rhizome has nodes and internodes and is really a modified stem that can exist underground."

A rhizome is a type of modified stem that functions in plant propagation. These tend to run horizontally underground. Because a rhizome is a stem, it contains nodes and internodes. The nodes contain leaves and axillary buds. Roots do not have nodes/internodes/leaves or axillary buds. Please read Section 36.4 for more information on rhizomes.