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Bryophyllum daigremontianum with plantlets on one of the leaves
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Chlorophytum comosum "Variegatum" in a hanging basket showing the plantlets
Plantlets are young or small clones, produced on the leaf margins or the aerial stems of another plant. Many plants such as spider plants naturally create stolons with plantlets on the ends as a form of asexual reproduction. Vegetative propagules or clippings of mature plants may form plantlets. An example is mother of thousands. Many plants reproduce by throwing out long shoots or runners that can grow into new plants. Mother of thousands appears to have lost the ability to reproduce sexually and make seeds, but transferred at least part of the embryo-making process to the leaves to make plantlets.
See also
- Apomixis
- Plant propagation
- Plant reproduction