Vanaspati: Plants and Plant-Life as in Indian Treatises and Traditions c5.s2.17

c5.s2.17

Although the ancients laid down the conditions of germination arrived at by practical experience, they have not, so far as our knowledge goes, cared to state the stages of germination as is done in the modern treatises on the subject. Yet the Sanskrit word *uttānapāda* taken from the vegetable world is significant. During germination it is the Radicle (*mūla, pāda*), the primary root, that comes out first, even in whatever position the seed is placed. The words *uttānapāda*, *ūrdhvamūla* mean “the root foremost.” Thus it is not inconceivable that they did not fail to notice the first stage in germination.