Hymenocallis, Dunes. and STOLONS
ConroeJoe@aol.com (Tue, 26 Oct 2004 15:45:59 PDT)

Hi,

I have not seen 1-foot-long extensions from Hymenocallis liriosme, the local
species. However, I have seen downward extensions from the bulbs sometimes,
and such tissues can be up to 5-6 inches long. I have not examined them
closely and could not say for sure if they are modified stems or modified roots,
but they sure don't seem to be modified leaves.

Nonetheless, sometimes the downward extensions (of H. liriosme) have linked
one bulb to another. So, you can do a thought experiment to create a
hypothesis if you lay out certain starting points.
1. Roots don't give rise to shoots (generally), only stems give rise to
shoots.
2. By linking 2 bulbs, you can suppose that the underground extension grew
out of one bulb and gave rise to the second bulb (hence, not a root but a
stem).
3. By similar logic, an underground leave is eliminated.
4. Underground stems that give rise to shoots are stolons because rhizomes
are "the main underground stem." (This assumes that the bulb part is the "main
stem")

With this type of fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants thinking, as well as the
knowledge that stolons do occur in closely related species, I've been supposing the
downward extending parts are stolons. It is true though that they sometimes
grow right out of the bottom of a bulb and grow downwards.

It is interesting that you surmise the plants in your area use the extensions
to keep near the surface instead of being deeply buried. Here in Texas, with
H. liriosme, I've supposed that they use the extensions (and roots too) to
pull the bulbs deeply into the soil. The bottom of bulbs can be 12 inches or 15
inches below the soil line--if you plant them in gardens they eventually make
deeply buried clumps.

Cordially,

Conroe Joe