stipe

In botany, a stipe is a stalk-like structure that supports various plant parts. It can refer to the stem of a fungus, the part connecting the blade and holdfast of an alga, or the petiole of a fern frond. In more advanced orchids, the stipe is a non-sticky tissue that connects the pollinia (pollen masses) to the viscidium, which aids in pollination. It is distinct from the caudicles, which are derived from the anther. The term "stipe" is also used for a prolongation of the receptacle beneath the ovary of a seed plant. Essentially, a stipe serves as a supportive stalk in different plant and fungal organisms.12