Short, swollen, underground plant stem, surrounded by protective scale leaves, as seen in the genus
Crocus. It stores food, provides a means of
vegetative reproduction, and acts as a
perennating organ.
During the year, the corm gradually withers as the food reserves are used for the production of leafy, flowering shoots formed from axillary buds. Several new corms are formed at the base of these shoots, above the old corm.
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