stipe
|stipe|
/staɪp/
supporting stalk
Etymology
'stipe' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'stipes', where 'stipes' meant 'log, trunk, stem'.
'stipe' changed from Latin 'stipes' (used in Medieval/Scientific Latin) and was adopted into modern botanical/mycological English as 'stipe' during the development of specialized biological terminology.
Initially, it meant 'log' or 'trunk', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a stalk or stemlike supporting structure in plants, fungi, and algae'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in mycology: the stalk that supports the cap of a mushroom (the stem of a fungal fruiting body).
The mushroom's stipe was long and slender.
Synonyms
Noun 2
in pteridology/botany: the stalk of a fern frond (the part between the rhizome and the blade; leaf stalk).
The fern's stipe grew upward from the rhizome.
Synonyms
Noun 3
in phycology: the stemlike supporting structure of some large seaweeds (e.g., kelp).
The kelp's stipe supports the blades and allows flexibility in currents.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/14 15:09