Rootstock

Rootstock [ Botany ]

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

A swollen root together with the whole or a portion of a very short stem.

A very short, but often thick stem along with the a swollen taproot, growing vertically underground or just above the surface of the soil. Often referred to as the Crown. The feeder roots and stems arise from this part of the plant.
This is a common feature found in many geophytic cacti and in some rosette succulent and represent an underground water and nutrients storage organ .

The term rootstock is also used to indicate a rhizome, an horizontal, underground stem; with shoots above and roots below serving as a reproductive structure.

Left: The rootstock of Turbinicarpus lophophorioides

Rootstock [ Botany ]
Synonym: Stock

A propagation term for the stem or root system portion of the plant to which a scion or bud of a desired cultivar is grafted or budded.

The rootstock is the rooting portion of a grafted plant. The portion of the plant, known as a scion (above ground growth), can be grafted onto the rootstock (underground growth) of different, but compatible species for a number of reasons. Grafted plants display certain resistance and growing characteristics based upon the kind of rootstock used. The most important characteristic of certain rootstocks is resistance to diseases, but additional characteristics include, drought resistance, and varying degrees of vigour. The use of rootstocks allows cultivars that would not grow on their own roots to be propagate.

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Holdfast roots [ Botany ]
Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

Some species of climbing plants develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place.

Climbing plants, like the poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), and trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place. Usually the Holdfast roots die at the end of the first season, but in some species they are perennial. In the tropics some of the large climbing plants have hold-fast roots by which they attach themselves, and long, cord-like roots that extend downward through the air and may lengthen and branch for several years until they strike the soil and become absorbent roots.

Major references and further lectures:
1) E. N. Transeau “General Botany” Discovery Publishing House, 1994