What Does Bulblet Mean?
A bulblet is a small bulb-like structure that is connected to a short stem and has either fleshy leaves or a leaf base. These small structures are usually found growing in the axils of leaves or inflorescence and are borne completely above the ground. Bulblets also develop at the base of large mature bulbs and gradually grow into or propagate a large bulb.
Bulblets develop into food storage organs that supply nutrients to the plant during dormancy and play a major role in the propagation of plants.
Bulblets may also be known as bulbet, bulbel, and bulbil.
Maximum Yield Explains Bulblet
Bulblets grow on various parts of the plant. For example, the tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium) forms bulblets in their leaf axils, while onion species including garlic or Allium sativum, form bulblets at their flower heads or when flowers are not present. For tree onions, a small cluster of bulblets grow and completely replace the flower heads. They are also formed at the tips of the fronds of ferns like hen and chicken fern.
Bulblets can grow large enough to replace the original bulb, and in such cases they are known as renewal bulbs.
Bulbs are an effective method of plant propagation. When bulblets are ripe, they detach from the bulb effortlessly and can be transferred to a pot or container with compost and soil. Then gradually, the bulblet will develop into another bulb and eventually a young shoot.
Although bulblets are relatively easy to use for propagation, a few pests and diseases like aphids, snails, narcissus bulb flies, slugs, and squirrels can harm the small bulbs.
