Difference Between Underground Stem and Root
| Underground Stem | Root | |
| 1 | Grows horizontally. | Grows vertically down. |
| 2 | Swollen due to deposition of food. | Not swollen. |
| 3 | Presence of nodes, internodes, scale leaves. | Nodes, internodes, scale leaves are absent. |
| 4 | Axillary and terminal buds present. | No such buds are produced. |
| 5 | Aerial shoots are produced from apical or axillary buds. | Buds are absent (except reproductive bud in some plants). |
| 6 | Adventitious roots develop. | No adventitious roots develop. |
| 7 | Hairs are absent. | Unicellular hairs are produced. |