acaulescent

“For this reason the species is called acaulescent, indicating that it has no other stem than the subterranean rootstock.”

Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation

“Absolute suppression of the main axis is tantamount to the non-existence of the plant, so that the terms "acaulescent," "acaulosia," etc, must be considered relatively only, and must be taken to signify an atrophied or diminished size of the stem, arising from the non-development of the internodes.”

Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants

“In Holland the acaulescent primrose is quite a common plant, filling the woods in the spring with thousands of clusters of bright yellow flowers.”

Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation

“This conclusion being accepted, the accidental re-apparition of bracts within the family must be considered as a case of systematic atavism, quite analogous to the re-appearance of the scapes in the acaulescent primrose.”

Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation

“To my mind this curious anomaly strongly supports the view of the latent condition of the scape in the acaulescent species, and that such a dormant character must be due to a descent from ancestors with active scapes, seems to be in no need of further reiteration.”

Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation

“A blissful smile would gleam on his friendly moon of a face that floated atop his heavy torso like an acaulescent flower as he hesitated over the diphthongs and said to me: “Yob’ tvoyu mat’.””

Simon & Schuster: Peace Meals