Rhizome
A horizontal underground stem that sends out roots and shoots from nodes. A method of vegetative reproduction that allows plants to spread laterally.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 2 chapters:
"...l tillers - Wheat: Moderate apical dominance = multiple tillers, but one dominant culm - Bamboo: Weak apical dominance = many culms from same rhizome The environment selected for these patterns. In dense canopy competition (forest), height dominance wins. In open grassland, lateral spread wins."
"If soil is stripped, no seed bank remains. 5. Underground storage organs - Mechanism: Bulbs, corms, rhizomes, tubers survive underground, resprout after above-ground damage - Speed: Weeks to months for shoots to emerge - Energy source: Starch stored ..."
Biological Context
Ginger, bamboo, and many grasses spread via rhizomes. Rhizomes store nutrients and allow plants to survive underground during unfavorable conditions. A single plant can colonize large areas through rhizome spread. Rhizomes make some plants difficult to eradicate.
Business Application
Rhizomatic business growth: spreading through underground connections rather than visible expansion. Franchise networks, affiliate programs, and word-of-mouth growth spread rhizomatically—new nodes emerge from existing connections.