What is a Stolon?
A stolon is a specialized type of plant stem which the plant uses to propagate itself. Stolons are capable of budding to produce clones of the parent plant, thereby allowing the plant to colonize an area of ground with its young. One of the most classic examples of a stolon can be found on the strawberry, a plant which utilizes this method of propagation very effectively. Many grasses also colonize regions in this way, as do some aquatic plants. Stolons look slightly different than regular stems, and they typically have distinctive nodes at which new growth can develop. They usually run horizontally, and they may be located above or below ground, depending on the species of plant involved. In some cases, stolons grow upright and later bend over or droop down to allow the nodes to come into contact with the ground so that the plant can bud and produce an offspring. Initially, the developing clone on the stolon relies on the parent plant for nutrition. Over time, the plant will root itse
