A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Rachilla, racheola, secondary axis of compound leaf; the axis of a spikelet of a grass or sedge; in Palms, the branch that bears the flowers; (as Rhachilla, as Rhacheola) “a secondary axis in the inflorescence of grasses” (Jackson); “a small or secondary rachis; specifically the axis of a spikelet of a grass or sedge” (WIII): rhachilla,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. rhachilla; rhacheola,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. rhacheola [> Gk. dim. of rhachis: backbone];

- rhachilla tenuis, supra glumas disarticulans, rachilla thin, above the glumes breaking up (Stearn).

- rachilla continua, with the rachilla continuous.

- rhachilla supra glumas inferiores v. supra florem inferiorem articulata (B&H), the rachilla articulated above the lower glumes or above the inferior flower.

- rhachilla supra glumas inferiores et inter flores articulata penicilloque pilorum instructa (B&H), the rachilla above the lower glumes and between the flowers articulated, and provided with a brush [i.e. tuft] of hairs.

- rhachilla inter flores articulata et pilis longis sericeis glumas fertiles circumdantibus instructa (B&H), the rachilla articulated between the flowers and provided with long, silky hairs surrounding the fertile glumes.

- rhachilla inter flores articulata (B&H), the rachilla articulated between the flowers.

- rhachilla supra glumas inferiores v. supra florem inferiorem articulata, (B&H), the rachilla articulated above the lower glumes and above the inferior flower.

- rhachilla sub floribus pilifera, ultra flores producía glumifera (B&H), the rachilla piliferous below the flowers, prolonged beyond the flowers, bearing glumes.

- glumae florentes secus rhachillam dissita (B&H), the flowering glumes far apart along the raachilla.

- spiculae secus rhachin continuam spicarum seu ramorum paniculae sessiles v. breviter pedicellatae, rhachilla supra glumas inferiores saepeque inter flores articulata (B&H), the spikelets continuous along the continuous rachis of the spike or the panicles sessile or shortly pedicellate, with the rachilla above the lower glumes and often articulated between the flowers.

- spiculae rhachilla tenui supra glumas disarticulantes, spikelets with rhachilla thin above the glumes breaking up.

- spicularum rhachilla brevissima ultra florem non producta, of the spikelets the rachilla most short above the flower not extended.

- rhachilla inter flores vel sub floribus articulata, rachilla between the flowers or under the flowers articulated (Stearn).

- inflorescentiis rachillis glabris praeditis, (Palms) with inflorescences provided with glabrous rachillae.

- spiculae foemineae utriculus usque ad os 2-dentatum clausus; rhachilla exserta, apice glumas vacuas v. flores masculos ferens (B&H), the utriculus of the female spikelet closed as far as the 2-toothed mouth; the rhachilla exserted, bearing at the apex empty glumes or male flowers.

NOTE: cf. acicula,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. acicula: “a bristle. The bristle-like abortive flower of a grass” (Lindley); the needle-like extension of the rhachilla of a grass:

- flores oppositi, decussati, magnitudîne capitis aciculae, ex albido lutei (Swartz), the flowers opposite, decussate, with the acicula [i.e. rachilla] with the size of the head, whitish to yellow.