wordplay - Some four word puzzles (and possible bounty)

A four word puzzle (see this and this) is basically a 4x4 grid containing 4 4-letter words, and reads the same top to bottom or left to right. For example,

A B C D
B E F G
C F H I

D G I J

Here are some puzzles with hints (not necessarily in the same order):

Sample puzzle

a shape
an identity
a valley
an audio track

Answer

S O N G

O V A L
N A M E
G L E N

Puzzle 1

a flower
a plant
a stage in life
a fraction of a whole

Puzzle 2

a medium of writing
an examination
a mark joining two points
a narrow cut

Puzzle 3

a kind of footwear
a kind of sensation
obedience
squashing things together

Puzzle 4

stack
volume
termination
a metal

Possible bounty

I know it's quite unlikely, but if a single person manages to be the first one to solve 3 of the 4 puzzles, you will get a bounty of 100 rep (plus up-votes from many people).

Answer

Puzzle 1

PART - a fraction of a whole

ALOE - a plant
ROSE - a flower
TEEN - a stage in life

Puzzle 3

MASH - squashing things together
ACHE - a kind of sensation
SHOE - a kind of footwear
HEED - obedience

Puzzle 4

PILE - stack
IRON - a metal
LOUD - volume
ENDS - termination