Difference Between Seeds and Bulbs

Seeds vs Bulbs

What is the difference between a seed and a bulb? A seed can be called as an embryo inside a seed coat, which usually stores food for the new plant until it can produce food on its own. On the other hand, a bulb can be called as a mature plant structure, which is made of modified leaves swollen at the base. The bulbs also store food till it goes through a period of dormancy.

Seeds are the product of ripened ovule after fertilisation. The development of seeds is the last in the process of fertilisation. The seeds are also responsible for the reproduction of plants. Bulbs are underground vertical shoots which has modified leaves. Though the base of the bulb does not support leaves, it contains food reserves. Bulbs can also be called as a structure that stores the complete life style of a plant in an underground structure.

While bulbs are perennial, the seeds are annual, perennial and biennial. Another difference that can be seen is that the bulbs need low maintanence than the seeds while cultivating. Another thing is that the bulbs can be moved from one place to another very easily whereas it is difficult to remove plants that comes from seeds.

Seeds are usually sown whereas bulbs are planted by digging holes in the ground. Another difference that can be seen is that seeds are usually inside a seed coat whereas the bulbs are itself the coat. Bulbs are globe shaped which has overlapping leaves arising from a very short stem. There are two types of Bulbs — one type of bulbs like the onion has a papery covering on the leaves and the other type does not have such covering.

Seeds can be basically divided into three parts — seed coat, embryo and endosperm. On the other hand, bulbs are divided into bud, thick fleshy leaves, lateral bulb, stem and roots.

Summary
1. A seed can be called as an embryo inside a seed coat, which usually stores food for the new plant until it can produce food on its own. Bulbs are underground vertical shoots which has modified leaves.
2. While bulbs are perennial, the seeds are annual, perennial and biennial.
3. Bulbs need low maintanence than the seeds while cultivating. Bulbs can be moved from one place to another very easily whereas it is difficult to remove plants that comes from seeds.
4. Seeds are usually sown whereas bulbs are planted by digging holes in the ground.
5. Seeds are usually inside a seed coat. Bulbs are globe shaped which has overlapping leaves arising from a very short stem.

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