"Fieldnotes," December 15th & 16th, 2013: "Beargrass," by Lois Mason.
http://www.montananaturalist.org/
"Rhizomes are located just beneath the soil surface, and are responsible for housing proteins, starches and other essential nutrients for plant growth. This tiny factory assembles cord-like roots that it sends down into the soil and fibrous green stalks that it shoots to the surface. This method of self-reproduction is the plant's clever way of surviving most of the forest fires that frequent Montana. Because the rhizomes are protected by a thin layer of soil, they are able to sprout new life into the black, ashen forest floor once a fire has passed."
