peduncle

 

 

 

From Late Latin pedunculus, from pedis, genitive of pēs (“foot”).

• IPA^(key): /pɪˈdʌŋ.k(ə)l/^[1]

• Audio (Southern England):

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peduncle (plural peduncles)

1. (botany) The stalk supporting an inflorescence or a solitary flower/fruit.
2. (botany) A short stalk at the base of a reproductive structure of a non-flowering plant.
   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page 5:

     On fertilization, the archegonia form obyriform calyptrae that are distinctly narrowed at base to form a stalk or peduncle; this does not occur in other Hepaticae.

3. (anatomy) A bundle of neurons connecting different parts of the brain.
4. (anatomy) In arthropods, the base segments of an antenna or stalk-like structures such as the peduncles of some barnacles
5. (anatomy) In vertebrates, the base of any relatively massive anatomical member connected to the body by a narrower section. Cf. caudal peduncle of fishes.
6. (anatomy) A stem attaching a mass of tissue (such as a polyp) to the body.
7. (zoology) A collection of nerves in the appendage of an animal (such as the tip of a dolphin's tail).

• pedicel
• peduncular
• pedunculate

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “peduncle”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
•   peduncle (botany) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
•   peduncle (anatomy) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia