Is an onion a root or a stem?

1. Is it a root or a stem?

The onions we usually see are actually modified stems underground, that is, they are bulbs. Many people think that it was dug out from the ground and that this is its root. This is a wrong perception. You can peel the onion and you will see a bulb at the bottom, which is flat and has a terminal bud in the middle, from where the leaves grow. In addition, there will be layers of scales around the terminal bud, which will become a bulb after overlapping growth.

2. Morphological characteristics

It is biennial or perennial. It has no taproot. Its roots are string-like fibrous roots attached to the base of the stem. Its root system is very weak and its ability to absorb water and fertilizer is not very strong. The leaves are dark green and cylindrical in shape, with a relatively thick layer of wax powder on the surface, which is actually a characteristic of its drought resistance.

Its flowering and fruiting period is around May to July. The flowers are pink and white, and the tepals have a green midrib and are rectangular oval in shape.