Sinningia douglasii

Many sinningia species have tubers which normally grow partially exposed, with the upper surface above the soil line. This tuber of Sinningia douglasii shows roots only on the bottom half. Notice the new shoots emerging from a kind of crown, formed from the dried bases of previous years' shoots. There are almost a dozen shoots visible in this picture. Fewer than half of them will develop into mature stems with leaves and flowers. The others are insurance, in case something happens to the primary shoots.