pédicelles

Pédicelles, in botany, are the slender stalks that bear individual flowers or fruits on an inflorescence. Each flower is typically attached to the main axis of the inflorescence by its own pedicel, while the stalk that supports the entire inflorescence is called the peduncle. The presence, absence, or length of pedicels can influence the presentation of flowers for pollination and the spatial arrangement of fruits on the plant.

Morphology and variation: Pedicels vary widely in length and orientation, ranging from very short or nearly sessile to long and pendant. They may be simple and unbranched or possess specialized features such as bracts (bracteolate pedicels). In many plant groups, pedicels are articulated at their base, allowing some movement to optimize pollinator access or fruit positioning. The term contrasts with peduncle, which refers to the stalk that supports the entire inflorescence rather than an individual flower or fruit.

Development and function: During flowering, pedicels position each flower on the inflorescence axis. After fertilization, the developing fruit remains attached to the plant by its pedicel, which may persist as the fruit stalk or wither away as the fruit matures. Pedicel morphology can be a diagnostic trait in plant taxonomy and systematic studies.

See also: peduncle, inflorescence, rachis, bract.