rachilla

[ ruh-kil-uh ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural ra·chil·lae [r, uh, -, kil, -ee].

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

rachilla

/ rəˈkɪlə /

noun

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

rachilla

/ rə-kĭl′ə /

, Plural rachillae rə-kĭl′ē

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rachilla¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rachilla¹

C19: from New Latin, diminutive of rachis

Example Sentences

In many-flowered spikelets the rachilla is often jointed and breaks into as many pieces as there are fruits, each piece bearing a glume and pale.

From Project Gutenberg

Rachilla not produced beyond the flowers. a.

From Project Gutenberg

B. Spikelets one- to indefinite-flowered; in the one-flowered the rachilla frequently produced beyond the flower; rachilla generally jointed above the empty glumes, which remain after the fruiting glumes have fallen.

From Project Gutenberg

It frequently extends downwards a little on the rachilla, forming with the latter a swollen callus, which is separated from the free portion by a furrow.

From Project Gutenberg

These consist typically of a short axis, the rachilla, almost or quite concealed by several chaffy bracts.

From Project Gutenberg