Plica

The Spanish term for stem.Also [Eng.] stem; [Fr.] queue; [Ger.] Hals; [Ger.] Notenhals; [It.] asta; [It.] gamba; [Sp.] plica.An ornament in Medieval music, notated by a short dash extending from the head of the note. The plica was probably a passing note, and was possibly sung so as to give the effect of a tremolo.