Stipes

Stipe, from the Latin stipes meaning a trunk or support, is a term used in biology to denote the stalk or stem that supports a main organ or body. The use of the word spans fungi, plants, and algae, where the stipe positions reproductive or photosynthetic tissue in relation to the ground or water. In many contexts the stipe is the visible stalk that raises the primary body above surrounding structures.

In mycology, the stipe is the stem of a mushroom that elevates the cap and bears the gills, pores, or other hymenial surfaces. Its size, shape, texture, and color are part of species identification and ecology. Some stipes are hollow; others solid. A ring (annulus) or remnants of a veiling structure at the base, or a volva encasing the base, may be present and are key diagnostic features. The stipe can also influence spore dispersal dynamics by orientation and movement in air or moisture.

In plants and algae, the stipe refers to the stalk supporting a frond or blade. In ferns, the stipe attaches the leaf blade to the rhizome; in many brown algae (kelp) and related seaweeds, the stipe connects the holdfast to the blades and helps maintain vertical position in the water column. Stipe morphology varies with habitat, offering flexibility in water flow and light capture. The term also appears in broader anatomical descriptions where a central stalk supports an organ, but its most common uses are in mycology, phycology, and botany.