What is a rhizome?

A rhizome is specifically defined as an underground stem that serves as a means of vegetative reproduction. Rhizomes grow horizontally beneath the soil surface and emit shoots and roots from their nodes. This adaptation allows plants to spread efficiently and can lead to the establishment of new plants at some distance from the parent.

This characteristic is crucial for many plants, such as grasses and some perennials, allowing them to colonize areas and recover from stress or damage by generating new growth from the rhizome. Understanding the role of rhizomes is important in turf management, as they contribute to the resilience and density of turfgrass.

Other options do not accurately describe a rhizome. While some may mention roots or plants, those definitions do not encompass the unique characteristics and functions that a rhizome possesses in plant biology.