In vitro responses of twelve species of bulbs and conns were compared. Plantlets could be induced directly without intervening callus on stem tissue in nine species, on ovary tissue in five species, and on leaf tissue in four species. In Gladiolus, Hyacinthus, Muscari, Ornithogahim, and Scilla plantlets were formed without growth factors added to the Murashige and Skoog medium. In Hippeastrum, Schizoslylis, Sparaxis, and Ipheion auxin was required. No plantlets could be induced directly on explants of growing tissue of Freesia, Tulipa, or Narcissus. Adventitious plantlets could be induced on pieces of bulb or corm from ten species but such material was difficult to free from contamination. Callus was obtained from all species except Tulipa and Hippeastrum. Plantlets could be regenerated from callus except that of Gladiolus, Sparaxis, and Schizostylis. Differences in responses of the twelve species tend to cut across the three families and no simple relation is evident between the natural rate of vegetative increase and the in vitro behaviour.