They are monocotyledonous, perennial, herbaceous, often bulbous geophytes. They are shrubs, weedy perennials, dwarf geophytes, and soft annuals. During spring geophytes also known as bulbs. The exceptions are a handful of attractive purple-flowered species that are deciduous geophytes. Maquis is an open-canopied evergreen woodland, with an understory of shrubs, herbs, grasses, and geophytes. The order also contains many geophytes (bulbs, corms, and various kinds of tuber). The region is extraordinarily rich in geophytes, harbouring approximately 630 species. They are herbivorous, mainly eating geophytes (plants with underground storage organs) and grass rhizomes. However, not all bulbs in the gardening sense are produced by geophytes. The pattern of burrowing systems for common mole-rats optimizes their access to food, especially geophytes. Other geophytes develop bulbs, a short axial body bearing leaves whose bases store food. As geophytes, they form bulbs with a membranous sheath ("tunic"). Geophytes are often physiologically active even when they lack leaves. Thus if roots are included in the definition, many geophytes would be classed as succulents. In some cases, especially with geophytes, plants closely related to the succulents are normal herbs.