rachilla

American  

[ruh-kil-uh] / rəˈkɪl ə /

noun

Botany.

• rachillae
  plural

1. a small or secondary rachis, as the axis of a spikelet in a grass inflorescence.

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rachilla British  

/ rəˈkɪlə /

noun

1. (in grasses) the short stem of a spikelet that bears the florets

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rachilla Scientific  

/ rə-kĭl′ə /

• rachillae
  plural

1. The stalk that bears the florets in the spikelets of grasses and similar plants, such as rushes and sedges. The rachilla often has a zigzag shape, with florets at each point at which the orientation of the rachilla turns.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• rachillae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of rachilla

1835–45; < New Latin, diminutive of rachis rachis

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rachilla

The spikelets are small, pedicellate, smooth, usually 6 to 14-flowered, pale but often tinged with red, the rachilla is jointed between the flowering glumes, and breaks away from above downwards.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by K. Rangachari

In some species of Panicum the rachilla is jointed to the pedicel below the empty glumes, whereas it is articulated just above these glumes in Chloris barbata.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by K. Rangachari

This prolonged rachilla sometimes bears a minute glume, which is of course rudimentary.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by K. Rangachari

The fourth glume is borne by a short rachilla which is about 1/3 the length of the third glume or less, shorter than the third, cuneiform, empty and awned.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by K. Rangachari

The third and the subsequent glumes are regularly arranged on the slender rachilla alternately in two rows.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by K. Rangachari