stolon

noun

sto·​lon ˈstō-lən How to pronounce stolon (audio)
-ˌlän
1
a
: a horizontal branch from the base of a plant that produces new plants from buds at its tip or nodes (as in the strawberry)

called also runner

b
: a hypha (as of rhizopus) produced on the surface and connecting a group of conidiophores
2
: an extension of the body wall (as of a hydrozoan or bryozoan) that develops buds giving rise to new zooids which usually remain united by the stolon

Illustration of stolon

Illustration of stolon
  • S stolon 1a

Examples of stolon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Make sure to hand-pull any stolons that sneak out from underneath. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026 Kikuyu, however, is the ultimate in dog-tolerant grasses with its indefatigable, ropy stolons and rhizomes. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin stolon-, stolo, from Latin, branch, sucker; akin to Old English stela stalk, Armenian stełn branch

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of stolon was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stolon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stolon. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

stolon

noun
sto·​lon ˈstō-lən How to pronounce stolon (audio)
-ˌlän
: a horizontal branch from the base of a plant that produces new plants from buds at its tip or nodes (as in the strawberry)

called also runner

More from Merriam-Webster on stolon

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster