Differences between Bulb and Corm lie in their structure and composition. Though both are modified underground stems, bulbs and corms have many differences. Corms are swollen stems storing food reserves, while bulbs consist of layers of modified leaves storing nutrients for growth.

Corms and bulbs are involved in vegetative propagation in plants. Corm examples include crocus and gladiolus plants and Bulb examples include tulips and onions. In this article, we will read the difference between bulbs and corm in detail.

What are Bulbs in Plants?

A bulb is an underground storage organ made up of modified, fleshy leaves covering a short, swollen stem base. Monocotyledonous plants, which are designed for food, water storage, and reproduction, produce bulbs. Oxalis is the only dicot genus capable of producing bulbs. To distinguish between bulbs and other forms, horticulturists refer to them as true bulbs. There are two types of bulbs

• Tunicated Bulbs
• Compound Tunicated Bulbs

In a tunicated bulb, the fleshy scale leaves are attached to the reduced stem and some of the outer scale leaves become dry and form an outer layer known as Tunic. In compound tunicated bulbs, the individual scale leaves are known as Bulbets or cloves forming 2 or 3 concentric rings around the central axis.

Examples of Bulbs:

• Tulips
• Onions
• Daffodils

Also Read: Difference Between Monocotyledon And Dicotyledon

What is Corm in Plants?

Another kind of underground storage organ is a corm, which does not have modified leaves’ protective outer layers like bulbs do. Rather, a corm is a nutrient-storing solid, bulging stem base. A corm contains a ring of thick, fibrous roots around the base, several buds near the top, and a tuft of leaves on the upper side. The terminal shoot, which frequently develops into leaves or a flowering stalk, is found at the apex of the corm.

Corms consist of a basal plate at the bottom and one or more growth tips on the top. Cormous plants can reproduce through corm segments, cormels, or new corms. A mother corm often produces two to three baby corms as well as fifteen to twenty cormlets, or small corms.

Examples of Corms:

• Crocus
• Gladiolus
• Taro
• Colocasia

Also Read: Morphology of Leaves – Types & Structure

Difference Between Corm and Bulb

There are several differences between Corn and Bulb which includes: