How do bulbs form new plantlets?

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Bulbs reproduce asexually through a process of vegetative propagation, allowing them to create new individuals without the union of gametes.12

As a bulb matures, buds may arise at the base of its fleshy, food-storage leaf scales. These buds develop into miniature bulbs, often referred to as bulblets or secondary bulbs. In some species, these structures can also form in the axils of leaves or in association with flower parts.3214

As the parent bulb's scales eventually disintegrate, these bulblets are released and grow into new, independent plants. This natural process increases the number of individuals and ensures the perpetuation of the parent plant's genetic traits. In horticultural practice, this process can be managed through bulb division, where the structures are separated and planted in a moist medium to root and develop.3125