In
botany and
dendrology, a
rhizome (, from "mass of roots", from "cause to strike root") is a modified
subterranean stem of a
plant that is usually found underground, often sending out
roots and
shoots from its
nodes. Rhizomes are also called
creeping rootstalks and
rootstocks. Rhizomes develop from
axillary buds and are
diageotropic or grow perpendicular to the force of gravity. The rhizome also retains the ability to allow new shoots to grow upwards.