1. a stalk or elongated structure that supports the pistil or female reproductive organ in certain flowers, elevating it above the other floral parts.
Usage: botany; technical term

Examples

• The gynophore in the flower of the caper plant extends the pistil well above the stamens.
• Botanists examine the gynophore to understand the reproductive structure of the species.
• The elongated gynophore is a distinctive feature of certain tropical plants.
• In some flowers, the gynophore develops into a fruit-bearing stalk after pollination.