Footstalk is a word used to describe the stem or stalk that supports a flower or fruit. There are a number of synonyms for this word, including peduncle, stipe, and stem. Peduncle is a term used to describe a stem that supports a flower or cluster of flowers. Stipe is a term used to describe the stalk that supports a mushroom or fern frond. Stem is perhaps the most general term, as it can refer to the supporting structure of any plant part. Regardless of which word is used, it is important to remember that the footstalk or its synonym is an essential component of plant physiology.