Cormel
A small, underdeveloped corm, usually attached to a larger corm
Cotyledon(s)
The seed leaves, which are present before germination, as distinct from true leaves, which develop after germination.
Cormels are small corms which form around the base of a larger corm.
Cormel A tiny corm (fleshy stem base) around a large mother corm.
Cornuta/cornutum/cornutus Epithet meaning horned.
Corolla The petals and normally colored portion of a flower; the inner floral envelope, consisting of petals.
Separating Cormels
Although some bulbs make offsets, flowers that grow from corms make little cormels or baby corms. After you dig at the end of the growing season and find the little cormels, store them separately from the large corms.
Separating gladiolus cormels and rearing them should be done shortly after the parent plant's foliage has dried. Lift the old, dried corm and separate the new corms.
A large new corm forms on top of the old corm, and tiny cormels form around the large corm. After the leaves wither, dig up the corms and allow them to dry in indirect light for 2 or 3 weeks.
Once cured, remove dried stubs, discard old corms and cormels (optional). To prevent rot, dust the large new corms with a fungicide.
These are called cormels. They should be able to bloom in two or three years if you save them and replant them each spring. Save the largest ones, at least ½ inch in diameter. Plan to plant them about 1½ to 2 inches deep.
Normally results in a population of identical individuals. Can occur by either natural means (e.g., bulblets, cormels, offsets, plantlets, or runners), or by artificial means (e.g., cuttings, division, budding, grafting, or layering).
 See also: Plant, Spring, Flower, Soil, Cutting
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