Emu feathers are very unique. Each feather double rachis emerging from a single shaft. Both of the rachis have the same length, and the texture is variable; the near the quill it is rather furry, but the external ends resemble grass. The plumes (or rhachis) do not have barbs that interlink the vanes like most feathers. That is why emu feathers are flexible and the plumes are wispy and more like hair than a regular feather.