Bulb
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Bulb. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a scaly body, formed at or beneath the surface of the ground, sending roots downward from its lower part and a stem upward from its center. It propagates itself by developing new bulbs in the axils of the scales, of which it is formed. There are two kinds of bulbs: (1) A tunicated bulb, literally a coated bulb, that is, a bulb furnished with a tunic or covering of scales, tho outer series of which is thin and membranous, example, the onion; and (2) a naked bulb, or one in which the outer scales are not membranous and united, $14,360,000 but distinct and fleshy like the inner 39,000,000 5,500,000 ones; example, the lilies. The so-called 4,360,000 solid bulb of the crocus is, properly 7,430,000 speaking, not a bulb at all, but an un- 990,000 $71,640,000
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a short and stout underground leafy stem, formed by several plant families, especially the lily family. It consists primarily of a solid, flat, horizontal portion. The under side of this plate produces roots; the upper side is covered with thick, fleshy leaf bases in the center of which may be found a bud from which a new plant is developed. The outermost scales are usually thin and dry, a single scale surrounding the entire bulb; and some times the outer scales are fleshy and narrow. The onion is an excellent example of the first,-the coated or tunicated bulb. The bulb of the wood-sorrel is of the other sort. See Lily ; Netherlands 2026 Editor's Note: The bulb caused the first great speculative bubble in recorded history. In the Dutch Republic of the 1630s, single tulip bulbs changed hands for the price of a house before the market collapsed in February 1637 — " tulip mania " is still the analogy reached for whenever an asset price runs away from reason. (Ed: BR 2026-07-05)