What Are the Inner Workings of My Flower? Right! A tuber is a short fat underground stem used for food storage. Now, let's try another one. A leaf cutting is: A short section of a plant usually having a growing point. A single leaf used in the production of more plants. A short underground stem surrounded by fleshy leaves. A short fat underground stem used for food storage. A ripened ovule. The joining together of two plants to grow as one.