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petiole Definition

peti·ole (petē ōl′)

noun

  1. Bot. leafstalk
  2. Zool. peduncle (sense )

Etymology: ModL petiolus < L, little foot, little leg, stalk, dim. < pes, foot

petiole Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • leaf: The petiole of the leaf is more difficult to interpret.

Converse of object

  • clasp: With this change, great durability is probably acquired; at least this is the case with the clasped petioles of Clematis vitalba.
  • bring: This movement of the leaves would aid that of the internodes in bringing the petioles into contact with surrounding objects.

Adjective modifier

  • main: The main petiole bends a little angularly downwards at each point where a pair of leaflets arises ( see fig.
  • young: I gently rubbed with a thin twig the lower surfaces of two young petioles; and in 2 hrs.
  • short: Straight, thin, black lines of this length were now drawn from the bases of the short petioles along the hypocotyls Fig.
  • long: The leaves are fan-shaped with parallel veins on long slender petioles.
  • confluent: As soon as the confluent petioles protrude from the seed they bend down, as they are strongly geotropic, and penetrate the ground.
  • whole: Nevertheless they sufficed to attract the eye, when the whole petiole was viewed as a transparent object beneath the microscope.

Modifies a noun

  • gland: The petiole glands are little bumps that secrete nectar.

Noun used with modifier

  • sub-: Each bears three pairs of lateral leaflets and a terminal one, all supported on rather long sub- petioles.