Definition of "thick-stemmed" []

• Having a thick stem (adjective)

WordNet. Princeton University. 2010.

• "I throw in torn leaves of thick-stemmed chard, turning them so they are coated in the emulsion."
• "I recommend special treatment for thick-stemmed greens like chard, bok choy, kale, collards, and broccoli: Separate the stems (sometimes called “ribs”) from the leaves (or florets in the case of broccoli) and begin cooking the stems two or three minutes before you start cooking the leaves (or florets)—this way everything will become tender at about the same time."
• "Most of the trees reach 30 meters or more and carry thick-stemmed lianas and woody and herbaceous epiphytes."