From Seed to Seed:
Plant Science for K-8 Educators

Digging Deeper

Role Reversal

Although most stems are aboveground, and most roots are belowground, this is not always the case. Consider the following underground plant parts:

-potato tuber

-iris rhizome

-tulip bulb

We may think of them as roots, and in many ways they perform the same functions as roots, but, technically speaking, these are all modified underground stems.

Have you ever noticed the little aerial roots sprouting from the stems of philodendrons and orchids? As you might have guessed, these are examples of aboveground roots.

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