corm

corm   (kôrm)    n.  A short thick solid food-storing underground stem, sometimes bearing papery scale leaves, as in the crocus or gladiolus. [New Latin cormus, from Greek kormos, a trimmed tree trunk; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots.]

Main Entry: corm
Pronunciation: 'ko(&)rm
Function: noun
: a rounded thick modified underground stem base bearing membranous or scaly leaves and buds andacting as a vegetative reproductive structure