Runners

Definition

Runners are horizontal stems that grow above or just below the ground and facilitate vegetative reproduction. They produce new plants at nodes along their length, allowing for rapid colonization of an area.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Runners are also known as stolons.
2. They are a form of asexual reproduction in plants.
3. Common examples of plants with runners include strawberries and grasses.
4. Runners can help plants spread rapidly over large areas.
5. Nodes on runners develop into new individual plants when they come into contact with soil.

Review Questions

• What is the primary function of runners in plant biology?
• Name two common plants that use runners for reproduction.
• How do nodes on runners contribute to the growth of new plants?

Related terms

Rhizomes: Underground stems that grow horizontally and produce new shoots and roots from their nodes.

Tubers:

Enlarged structures in some plant species used to store nutrients, often found underground.

Creepers: Plants that grow horizontally along the ground and can root at intervals along their stems.