Vanaspati: Plants and Plant-Life as in Indian Treatises and Traditions c5.s3.18

c5.s3.18

2. Shoot.—The shoot is divided into stem and leaves. The main stem (trunk) is called *prakāṇḍa*, i.e., it is that part which is between the main root and the place from which branches originate. It is also called *skandha* as it bears the head or crown. The stem may be weak or strong and so are the plants having them. Strong stemmed plants are called *vanaspati*, *vānaspatya*, etc., they stand erect. The weak stemmed plants cannot support themselves, and according to their habit they are distinguished into—a creeper and a trailer. A creeper is called *vallī*, *vratatī*, or *latā*. The creeper includes both a twiner and a climber. *Latā* means that which embraces, twines. It also means a weak plant that goes from the root to the top of a tree (mulāchchhāgra gatān latā). By the term latā is meant the whole range of lianes. (वल्ली वेष्टयते वृक्षं--Śānti Parva).