Question

Ferns are vascular plants with true tissues. What is the name of the underground stem?

A. Roots
B. Rhizomes
C. Tubers

Answer 1

B. Rhizomes; Fern stems are often referred to as rhizomes, even though they grow underground only in some of the species.

Answer 2

See leaf structure in the Roots, Stems, and Leaves text supplement.) In most ferns, the stem grows underground. Underground stems are called rhizomes. Like all stems, fern stems have a pith surrounded by a ring of vascular bundles each with xylem and phloem, a cortex, and an epidermis that is covered by a cuticle