Dear Jim and all, An unusual thick "basal plate stem" occurs in Ledebouria viscosa. And in some L. socialis forms I've examined, as the "bulb scales" wither they expose a thin rhizome-like stem which functions for rooting and for production of some offset bulbils. There appears to not be a plate-like basal plate in L. socialis, at least in the forms I've dissected. The growing center is elongate like a regular stem, extending way into the "bulb" of clasping succulent leaf bases. If it doesn't have a basal plate is it a bulb? Fred Boutin Tuolumne, CA > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >