Stalk
In Botanical, one calls stalk the floral Pièce in form of Tige, sometimes called tail, which carries the Fleur S, then, after the Fécondation, the Fruit S. a flower without stalk, or with very short stalk, is known as sessile.
Anatomically, the stalk with the structure of a Stem (like the Pétiole, which carries the Feuille). It generally green and is deprived of sheets. However the floral stalk can carry sheets, often reduced, and sometimes transformed into Bractée S, green or coloured which announces the flower or the inflorescence). Thus at Euphorbia pulcherrima , the decorative element is consisted Bractée S bright red, whereas the inflorescence is unimportant. At certain plants, the stalk is coloured
The end of the stalk, more or less deeply transformed, constitutes the floral Réceptacle on which the various parts are inserted constituting the flower (Pétale S, Sépale S, etc) or the various flowers in the case of the made up flowers (cf capitulates). Sometimes this end is presented in the form of a called more or less reinflated mass thalamus which carries the Carpelle S and the cheesecloth S.
The stalk can be ramified, in particular in the case of the Inflorescence S in Grappe. In this case, the ramifications are called “pedicels”.
In certain cases, the stalk undergoes remarkable transformations after the fecundation of the flower:
- at the Cashew tree, it is reinflated and become fleshy, forming a False-fruit called Pomme of cajou, which carries at its end the genuine fruit or Cashew nut.
- at the strawberry plant, the strawberry results from the transformation into false-fruit of thalamus.
- at the Arachide, part of the stalk called Gynophore lengthens inordinately and bends downwards, which allows the hiding of the ovary which will transform into Gousse groundnut whose maturation is done under ground.
The stalks of Cherry S, known as cherry tails ( Prunus avium or griottier), are famous to have properties Diurétique S and sedative of the urinary Système and are registered for this reason with the French Pharmacopée. These cherry tails form part of the medicinal plants however on sale free.
The Chêne stalk (or oak reopens) owes its name with the fact that its fruits, the nipples, are carried by a long stalk.
See too
Stem | Petiole