Rhizomes and stem and root tubers are used extensively by horticulturists as propagative organs because they can be cut into pieces and planted. However, the gardener must be sure that at least one axillary bud (or adventitious bud in the case of root tubers) is present on each piece. As with all methods of vegetative propagation, the offspring are clones of the parent plant and, therefore, possess identical characteristics. SAPROPHYTES AND
