Question

The long, leafless, flowering stem of scallions, chives, and garlic can be consumed as vegetables, usually before they actually flower. What are they called?

1) Bulbs
2) Stalks
3) Leaves
4) Roots

Answer 1

The consumable, leafless, flowering stems of scallions, chives, and garlic before flowering are known as stalks. They represent a type of storage and reproductive structure in plants along with other forms such as bulbs, corms, and tubers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The long, leafless, flowering stem of scallions, chives, and garlic, which is consumed as a vegetable before actually flowering, is called stalks. This term refers to the parts of the plants that are often above ground like cabbage stems or serve as storage units below ground like onion bulbs. In the context of plant biology, it's essential to recognize different plant structures such as corms, tubers, and bulbs.

Bulbs, like in scallions, chives, and garlic, are a type of stem modification with enlarged fleshy leaves surrounding the base of the stem, which function as an underground storage unit and can produce new plants asexually. Other stem modifications that allow for asexual reproduction and storage are corms, tubers, and rhizomes. Understanding these structures helps gardeners and horticulturists in the propagation and care of various plants.