caulis

Caulus is a Latin noun meaning stem or stalk. In botanical terminology, caulus refers to the main axis of a plant—the stem that supports leaves, buds, and flowers—distinguishing it from the root system and from other underground or creeping structures. The term appears most often in descriptive or historical contexts, and its use has influenced several related English forms.

Acaulescent and caulescent describe the presence or absence of an above-ground stem. Acaulescent plants have little or no visible stem, often growing from a basal rosette, while caulescent plants possess a distinct stem. The adjective cauline refers to leaves that arise from the stem rather than from the base of the plant. These terms help differentiate plant architecture in taxonomic descriptions and field observations.

Cauliflory is a related concept illustrating a plant habit in which flowers and fruits develop directly on the main stem or trunk, rather than at the tips of branches. The caul- element in such terms reflects the stem-centric sense of caulus, highlighting how the stem or trunk features influence a plant’s reproductive strategy.

In modern botany, caulus is most commonly encountered in specialized, historical, or Latin descriptive literature. In everyday usage, stem or main stem is typically preferred. Nevertheless, caulus remains a foundational term that underpins related descriptors such as caulescent, acaulescent, and cauline.