A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Axil, Axilla (Eng.nouns), the angle between the stem and the leaf, or another organ which arises from the stem, such as a bract; “the angle formed between the axis and any organ that grows from it; the base of a lateral ascending organ, on the upper side” (Lindley); “the angle formed between the axis and any organ which arises from it, especially of a leaf” (Jackson): axilla,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sing. axilla, nom. pl. axillae, acc. pl. axillas, dat.& abl. pl. axillis, 'armpit;'

NOTE: not the English noun ‘axle;’ see axis (Eng.noun).

NOTE: the Latin noun ‘ala,-ae’ (s.f.I), q.v. ‘wing’ is a contraction from ‘axilla,-ae (s.f.I),’ (in man) the armpit; (in animals) the shoulder-blade.

Axil (Eng.noun): “the distal usually upper angle or point of divergence between a branch or leaf and the axis from which it arises” (WIII).

NOTE: ala,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. ala: wing, flat part; “formerly an axil, but not now employed in that sense” (Lindley).

NOTE: axillary, q.v., growing, positioned in or arising in an axil, “growing in the axil of anything” (Lindley): axillaris,-e (adj.B); note adjectives relating to the axil (not axis) have two ‘ell’s in them, as the Latin noun for axil: axilla,-ae (s.f.I).

NOTE: the adjj. axile, and axial, q.v., relate to the axis, not the axil.

- gemmulae e foliorum caulinorum axillis ortae, gemmules from the axils of the stem leaves arising.

- segmentis linearibus supra axillam patentibus, with linear segments spreading above the axil.

- structuris reproductivis [generatoriis] praecipuis in axillis evolutis, with special reproductive structures in the axils developed

- in axilla folii ad gemmarum milia decem, in the axil of the leaf to ten thousands of gemmae.

- flores in axillis foliorum superiorium solitarii, flowers solitary in the axils of the upper leaves.

- cymae densae capituliformes, ad apices ramorum confertae v. in axillis superioribus pedunculatae, cymes dense, head-shaped, crowded at the apices of the branches or in the upper axils, pedunculate.

- flores ad axillas foliorum floralium dense aggregati (B&H), flowers in the axils of the floral leaves densely aggregated.

- (moss) antheridia in foliorum superiorum axillis nuda (Mueller), antheridia naked in the axils of the upper leaves.

- [algae] axillae superiores acuta; infimae patentes, ramo decumbente aliquando radicante (Agardh), the upper axils are acute; the lowermost spreading, with the decumbent [i.e. prostrate but with the apex ascending] branch somewhat radiating.

NOTE: ala,-ae (s.f.I), q.v., ‘wing’ “formerly an axil, but now obsolete in that sense” (Jackson);

- paniculae axillares v. extraalares, pedales et ultra, laxe ramosae (B&H), panicles axillary or (extraaxillary, i.e. on the internode beyond the axil), a foot long and more, loosely branched.