Vanaspati: Plants and Plant-Life as in Indian Treatises and Traditions c5.s3.27

c5.s3.27

4. Leaf :—The leaf is called patra, because it falls soon, it is also called parṇa because of its green colour. The stalk of the leaf when present is called brinta, and the petiolate leaf is called sa-brinta. New leaves are called pallava, kishalaya. Branches with undeveloped leaves (pallava) are called vistāro as the plant spreads by it. It is synonymous with modern ‘bud.’ Leaves may be simple when it is called eka-patra—one-leaved. Compound leaves are described by the number of leaflets they contain, e.g., dvi-patra (Bauhinia?), tri-patra (Ægle), sapta-parṇa (Echites scholaris). Leaves are also described by their shapes such as aśwa-parṇaka (Shorea robusta)—as the leaves resemble the ear of a horse; mushika-parṇī (salvinia)—as the leaves resemble the ear of a mice;