phylloclad
/ˈfɪləklæd/
noun
- A flattened stem that looks and functions like a leaf, found in some plants such as certain cacti and ferns.
- In botany class, we examined a phylloclad under the microscope to see its internal structure.
- The phylloclad of the butcher's broom plant looks like a leaf but is actually a modified stem.
- Some desert plants have phylloclades that store water and perform photosynthesis.