Woody stem of palms and tree ferns

• Persistent thickened stem of a herbaceous perennial plant

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. persistent thickened stem of a herbaceous perennial plant [syn: stock ] woody stem of palms and tree ferns [also: caudices (pl)]

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
A caudex (plural: caudices) of a plant is a stem , but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises. In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most often used with plants ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Caudex \Cau"dex\, n.; pl. L. Caudices , E. Caudexes . [L.] (Bot.) The stem of a tree., esp. a stem without a branch, as of a palm or a tree fern; also, the perennial rootstock of an herbaceous plant.

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context botany English) An enlargement of the stem, branch or root of a woody plant, usually serving to store water.