Viyahapannatti 7.3.345

7.3.345

vaṇassaikkāiyā ṇaṃ bhaṃte! kaṃ kālaṃ savvappāhāragā vā, savvamahāhāragā vā bhavaṃti?
goyamā! pāusa-varisārattesu ṇaṃ ettha ṇaṃ vaṇassaikāiyā savvamahāhāragā bhavaṃti, tadānaṃtaraṃ ca ṇaṃ sarade, tadānaṃtaraṃ ca ṇaṃ hemaṃte, tadānaṃtaraṃ ca ṇaṃ vasaṃte, tadānaṃtaraṃ ca ṇaṃ gimhe| gimhāsu ṇaṃ vaṇassaikāiyā savvappāhāragā bhavaṃti|
jai ṇaṃ bhaṃte! gimhāsu vaṇassaikāiyā savvappāhāragā bhavaṃti, kamhā ṇaṃ bhaṃte! gimhāsu bahave vaṇassai-kāiyā pattiyā, pupphiyā, phaliyā, hariyagarerijjamāṇā, sirīe atīva-atīva uvasobhemāṇā-uvasobhemāṇā ciṭṭhaṃti?
goyamā! gimhāsu ṇaṃ bahave usiṇajoṇiyā jīvā ya, poggalā ya vaṇassaikāiyattāe vakkamaṃti, cayaṃti, uvavajjaṃti| evaṃ khalu goyamā! gimhāsu bahave vaṇassaikāiyā pattiyā, pupphiyā, phaliyā, hariya-garerijjamāṇā, sirīe atīva-atīva uvasobhemāṇā-uvasobhemāṇā ciṭṭhaṃti|

"At what time, Venerable Sir, are plant-bodied beings taking the least nourishment, or taking the greatest nourishment?"
"Gautama! In early autumn and the rainy season, plant-bodied beings take the greatest nourishment; thereafter in autumn, thereafter in winter, thereafter in spring, thereafter in summer. In summer, plant-bodied beings take the least nourishment."
"If, Venerable Sir, plant-bodied beings take the least nourishment in summer, why then, Venerable Sir, in summer do many plant-bodied beings stand endowed with leaves, flowers, and fruits, shining with greenery, exceptionally adorned with beauty?"
"Gautama! In summer, many heat-born souls and pudgalas enter into existence, are born, and originate as plant-bodied beings. Thus indeed, Gautama, in summer many plant-bodied beings stand endowed with leaves, flowers, and fruits, shining with greenery, exceptionally adorned with beauty."