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The word rachis comes to us from the Greek word for backbone. But, plants don’t have backbones!  Vertical fern rachis with horizontal leaflets (Christian Guthier) CC BY-SA 3.0 That’s true. But they often have a main axis or shaft, similar to those seen in feathers. In fact, the shaft of a feather is also called its rachis [ray-KIS].  ‘Buddleja paniculata’ inflorescence arranged along a central rachis (Ptelea) CC BY-SA 3.0 Botanically, the rachis can be the central stem seen in ferns, in compound leaves, or in the portion of an inflorescence found above the peduncle. Rachis is a type of stipe. Stipes are stalks that support other structures.
Now, when someone mentions a rachis or a stipe, you will know what they are talking about!
Chuck
4/4/2019 08:59:57 am
It does no good for me to wish I could go back, major in botany, and spend a career in it, say, at Missouri Botanical Gardens, (as you and I both like the place a lot). But getting these snippets from you daily, suffices very nicely and I’m appreciative for them at this point in my life. Better late than never. Thank you.
Kate Russell
4/8/2019 06:16:13 am
Chuck, thank you so much! Comments are closed.
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