Petiole

A petiole is a leaf stalk.

Big Leaf Maple – drawing © John Muir Laws

The petiole connects the leaf surface to the stem.

White Alder – drawing © John Muir Laws

Sometimes, leaves connect directly to the stem without a petiole.

Pacific Trillium – photo courtesy Zoya Akulova-Barlow

Petioles are sometimes large and long, like on this wild celery.

Pendleton Button-Celery – photo courtesy Zoya Akulova-Barlow

Want more? See Wikipedia.

Corrections/Comments: bruce@PlantID.net