The suckers are seen as small replicas of the plant
Hijuelo is the diminutive of son . The term, coming from the Latin word filiŏlus , is used to refer to the shoot of a plant .
Side shoots
Shoots are the new stems or shoots that a plant generates . These are lateral shoots that, once separated from the main stem, can be planted to produce a new specimen.
The offspring are constituted as identical replicas at the genetic level of the plant . Therefore they constitute a method of reproduction : the “copy” can be separated and planted elsewhere.
Adaptation mechanism
According to botanical experts, the creation of offspring is an adaptation mechanism of plants to ensure their subsistence. The specimen produces a replica of itself that arises at the base of its stem.
The offspring, with the passage of time , develops its own root system. In this way, it is key not to extract it from the plant as soon as it emerges, but rather to give it time so that, when separated and planted elsewhere, it has a greater chance of rooting successfully.
It is important to clarify that not all plants produce offspring. Among those that do include aloe vera , pandanus and bromeliads , for example .
Plants that produce suckers
To expand on what was said in the previous paragraph, we will talk about plants that, instead of using cuttings or seeds, produce offspring for reproduction. Some generate them at the ends of their leaves, while others create branches (called stolons ) from which these small plants appear.
The plant called ribbon , for example, which is also known by the name love bow, is among those that produce shoots at the tips of its leaves. It is an indoor plant that is very easy to grow, with thin, long and curved leaves that have a combination of two colors: cream and green. It is worth mentioning that if it does not receive enough sunlight, its leaves may only be green.
The tape is very resistant to low temperatures, so it is possible to place it in a garden, although it is necessary to keep in mind that extreme cold and direct sun can damage it irreversibly. We can also talk about the saxifraga stolonifera or bridal bouquet , an outdoor one whose leaves have a characteristic rounded shape and white veins that burst into the green color of its leaves. Its stems are reddish and short. Unlike tape, it is very resistant to cold and direct sun.
This hanging plant produces reddish threads at the end of which we can see the shoots, which form its own root ; Therefore, if they are not extracted and have enough space, over time they generate a row of saxifrage. Finally we can talk about the aforementioned aloe vera , a shrub well known for its healing properties.
Aloe vera is a well-known example of a plant that produces offspring.
Its leaves can reach 50 centimeters in length and 15 centimeters in width. Regarding their shape, they are triangular and canaliculated. Although they do not exhibit spots, their shoots and older leaves do have some of a lighter tone than the plant's characteristic green.
“Hijuelo” is not “daughter”
The concept of hijuelo should not be confused with the notion of hijuela . The Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) recognizes more than a dozen meanings of daughter, a word that can refer to that which is subordinate to a main element; to a thin mattress that is placed under another in a bed; to a strip of fabric that allows a garment to be widened; or to a path that goes from the main road to a place far from a town, to name a few possibilities.