A herb is not just a small plant: what biomass allocation to rhizomes tells us about differences between trees and herbs.

Rhizomatous herbs accumulate substantial biomass in rhizomes, and rhizome biomass is scaling isometrically with leaves, contrary to the hypoallometric relationship between stem and leaves in trees. This difference suggests that the rhizome biomass is in balance with aboveground biomass - a resource of carbon for rhizome formation that, at the same time, is dependent on carbon stored in rhizomes for its seasonal regrowth. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.