The hidden half of ontogeny and seasonal dynamics in perennial herbs

Abstract The life strategy of perennial herbs is dependent on coarse belowground organs, such as rhizomes, bulbs, tubers and storage roots, necessary for repeated seasonal regrowth and often invaluable for vegetative reproduction. Yet, the development of these organs in early life and its links to the dynamics of aboveground parts is generally unknown. To unravel the ontogeny and seasonal dynamics of belowground coarse organs in perennial plants, we conducted a three‐year experimental study with 20 species differing by rhizome type. We confirmed that the ontogeny of aboveground and belowground plant parts differ, that belowground ontogeny is partly driven by species phenological strategy, and that there are differences in ontogeny between belowground organ types. The costs of coarse belowground organ constructions along with morphological constraints occurring during ontogeny may govern species' reproductive and carbohydrate storage strategies. Synthesis : We show that to fully understand plant strategies, plants need to be studied as integrated bodies consisting of aboveground and belowground organs reciprocally influencing each other.