Rhizomes are the horizontal stems from which some plants, such as irises, grow. Rhizomes are found on or just under the surface of the earth.
rhizome in British English
(ˈraɪzəʊm)
noun
a thick horizontal underground stem of plants such as the mint and iris whose buds develop new roots and shoots
Also called: rootstock, rootstalk
Derived forms
rhizomatous (raɪˈzɒmətəs, -ˈzəʊ-)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from New Latin rhizoma, from Greek, from rhiza a root
rhizome in American English
(ˈraɪˌzoʊm)
noun
a creeping stem lying, usually horizontally, at or under the surface of the soil and differing from a root in having scale leaves, bearing leaves or aerial shoots near its tips, and producing roots from its undersurface