Cormels
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Retrieved from Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corm
Corms can form many small cormlets called cormels, from the basil areas of the new growing corms especial when the main growing point is damaged. They are used to propagate corm forming plants. Corms of a number of species of plants are replaced every year by the plant with growth of a new corm, this process starts after the shoot has developed fully expanded leaves. The new corm forms at the shoot base just above the old corm, as the new corm is growing, short stolons are produced that end with the newly growing small corms called cormels. As the plants grow and flower, the old corm is used up and shrivels away, the new corm that replaces the old corm grows in size, especially after flowering is done.
When cormels are produced, the old corm produces the greatest number of cormels when it is close to the soil surface. The small cormels normally take one or two more years of growth before they are large enough to flower.
Corms can be dug up and used to propagate or redistribute the plant (see, for example, taro). Plants with corms can be propagated by cutting the corms into sections and replanting, each section with a bud will generate a new corm.
