Vanaspati: Plants and Plant-Life as in Indian Treatises and Traditions c5.s3.20

c5.s3.20

3. Stem :—The stem may be plain or jointed (śata parva). Each joint or node is called a parva or granthi. Leaves spring from the joint (स्तम्बे गुल्मे तृणादीनां काण्डद्रुमगुच्छयोः). Plants may be with stems or stemless. Stemmed plants are called sakāṇḍa, and stemless plants are distinguished as aprakāṇḍa, stamba. Plants having short or stunted roots and branches are called kshupa (क्षुपः--ह्रस्वशाखा शिफः). The primary branches are called skandaśākhā, and secondary and tertiary ones are known as praśākhā (प्रशाखाः); pratiśākhā and anuśākhā (प्रतिशाखाः and अनुशाखाः) are also used.¹ The branches generally are known as śākhā, as the plant (śākhina) spreads by them. Branchless stems are called sthānu or śaṅku. Apex of the tree, i.e., the tree-top is called शिरस्, agra, śikhara, i.e., where one cannot climb, or which cannot be reached.