1. the stalk that attaches a leaf blade to a stem
Usage: botanical

Examples

• The maple leaf has a long petiole that allows it to flutter in the wind.
• Some leaves attach directly to the stem without a petiole.
• The petiole contains vascular tissue that transports water and nutrients.
• You can identify certain plants by examining the length and shape of their petioles.
• The botanist measured each petiole to compare leaf structures.
• A damaged petiole may cause the leaf to wilt or fall off.