Ecological Functions of Carbohydrates Stored in Corms of Tipularia discolor (Orchidaceae)

The orchid Tipularia discolor possesses two to five subterranean corms containing a high concentration of total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC). We investigated the role of corms in the initiation of new growth following seasonal dormancy, in reproduction, and in the response of plants to artificial defoliation. Severance of older corms (representing c. 30% of total corm biomass) influenced new shoot initiation, but had little or no effect on plants during fruit production or in their response to defoliation. Shading of plants during growth initiation had no detectable impact on shoot growth or storage use (...)