Edible plant stems are one part of plants that are eaten by humans. Most plants are made up of stems, roots, leaves, flowers, and produce fruits containing seeds. Humans most commonly eat the seeds (e.g. maize, wheat), fruit (e.g. tomato, avocado, banana), flowers (e.g. broccoli), leaves (e.g. lettuce, spinach, and cabbage), roots (e.g. carrots, beets), and stems (e.g. [asparagus] of many plants. There are also a few edible petioles (also known as leaf stems) such as celery or rhubarb. Plant stems have a variety of functions. Stems support the entire plant and have buds, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Stems are also a vital connection between leaves and roots. They conduct water and mineral nutrients through xylem tissue from roots upward, and organic compounds and some mineral nutrients through phloem tissue in any direction within the plant. Apical meristems, located at the shoot tip and axillary buds on the stem, allow plants to increase in length, surface, and mass. In some plants, such as cactus, stems are specialized for photosynthesis and water storage. Modified stems Typical stems are located above ground, but there are modified stems that can be found either above or below ground. Modified stems located above ground are phylloids, stolons, runners, or spurs. Modified stems located below ground are corms, rhizomes, and tubers. Detailed description of edible plant stems Asparagus The edible portion is the rapidly emerging stems that arise from the crowns in the Bamboo The edible portion is the young shoot (culm). Birch Trunk sap is drunk as a tonic or rendered into birch syrup, vinegar, beer, soft drinks, and other foods. Broccoli The edible portion is the peduncle stem tissue, flower buds, and some small leaves. Cauliflower The edible portion is proliferated peduncle and flower tissue. Cinnamon Many favor the unique sweet flavor of the inner bark of cinnamon, and it is commonly used as a spice. Fig The edible portion is stem tissue. The fig "fruit" is actually an inverted flower cluster with both the male and female flower parts enclosed inside the base of the inflorescence, corresponding to the peduncle. Ginger root The edible portion is a branched underground compressed stem also referred to as a rhizome. Kohlrabi The edible portion is an enlarged (swollen) hypocotyl. It is a member of the cabbage family and is white, green, or purple in color. Lotus root The edible portion is a stem modified for underwater