rachilla

American  

[ruh-kil-uh] / rəˈkɪl ə /

noun

Botany.

plural

rachillae

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 /

plural

rachillae

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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Etymology

Origin of rachilla

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

Example Sentences

The rachilla is usually well developed and elongated in many-flowered spikelets, while in 1-flowered spikelets it remains very small so that the flower appears to be terminal.

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

It is attached to the axis of the flower and its back is towards the rachilla.

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

But the rachilla of the spikelet may be jointed just above the empty glumes or between the flowering glumes.

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

The spikelets are rather small, narrow, greenish or purplish, 1/15 inch long or less, the rachilla is slender, produced to about half the length of the spikelet behind the palea.

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

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 Rangachari, K.