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Abulbil (also referred to as abulbel,bulblet, and/orpup) is a small, young plant that is reproduced vegetatively fromaxillary buds on the parent plant'sstem or in place of a flower on aninflorescence.[1] These young plants are clones of the parent plant that produced them—they have identical genetic material.[2][3][4] The formation of bulbils is a form ofasexual reproduction, as they can eventually go on to form new stand-alone plants.[3][4]
Although some bulbils meet the botanical criterion to be considered a truebulb, there are a variety of differentmorphological forms of bulbils, some of which are not considered to be bulbs. Hence the reason for distinction between bulbs and bulbils. For example, somebulbous plant groups, like onions and lilies, produce bulbils in the form of a secondary, small bulb.[1] Onion and lily bulbils meet the botanical criterion to be labeled a true bulb.[1][5] All bulbils produced bybulbous plants are to be considered bulbs, but not all bulbils are to be considered bulbs. For example, other non-bulbous plant groups, like various genera within the subfamilyAgavoideae, are well known to produce bulbils that do not actually meet the botanical criterion to be considered abulb.[5]
WithinAgavoideae, bulbils develop on theinflorescence of a blooming plant.[3][2][4] The development of bulbils in this group is common in approximately 17Agave species, allFurcraea species, and has been somewhat documented inYucca (particularlyYucca elata), andHesperaloe.[2] Bulbils can develop quite quickly, many do so after the flowers die, and can persist on the inflorescence for around one to two years before falling to root in the ground.[2] While still on the parent plant, many species developadventitious roots and can grow to sizes ranging from 5 to 15 centimeters, if left to mature.[2]