Hi Ken:
The reason behind such definitions is of a practical nature. There
must be at least 3,000 species of geophytes (and perhaps 50,000 named
hybrids in cultivation?) to portrait and discuss. There has to be a limit to
such an amount of work. Then it sounds sensible that those that are not
geophytes are not included.
Interestingly in many areas of South America that are dryish and
hot very many plants look "bulbous" but they aren't. It is an adaptation to
periodical fires and most (if not all) are woody and carrot like. In other
words, a tree or shrub of small size completely buried in the ground and
from which only the soft green parts emerge. This organs are xylopodiums but
not bulbs, corms and tubers. More like caudiciforms.
Regards
Alberto
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