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Jaina Biology
is the absorption on water and mineralstol from the soil and the conduction of these substances to the stem. 102
The stem 103 consisting of trunk, branches and twigs 104 is the connecting link between the roots, where water and minerals enter the plant, and the leaves 105 which manufacture food. The vascular tissues of the stem are continuous106 with those of root and leaf and provide a pathway for the exchanges of materials. The stem and its branches support the leaves so that each leaf is exposed to as much sunlight as possible. Besides, stems also support flowers and fruits 107 in proper position for reproduction to occur. The stem 108 is the source of all leaves and flowers produced by a plant, for its growing points produce primorida of leaves (kisalayas) and flowers (Puspa ). It should be noted that root and stems are sometimes confused because many kinds of stems grow underground 109 and some roots 110 grow in the air.
The leaf may be filled with kşira (a waxy cutin ?) or may not be so (niḥksiraṁ) and may have fine veins (gūdhasiram) and their invisible joints (parvas) in between two half parts of it, 111 i.e. the upper and lower layers of the leaf epidermis filled with thin walled cells called mesophyll which are full of chloroplast. Each leaf is a specilized nutritive organ whose function is to carry on photosynthesis". 112
The suction forcelli connected with transpiration pull contributes to the economy of the plant by assisting the upward movement of water through the stem by concentrating in the leaves the dilute solutions
101. Bhagavati 7. 3. 275 ; Sätrakrtānga II. 3. 43 ; Lokaprak asa, 1, 5, 107-108. 102. Ibid. (Lokaprakāla 1. 5. 107–108) 103. Sūtraktănga II. 3. 46, ; Lokaprakasa 1. 5. 77 : Pannavanā 1.41, pp. 17-18 ;
Gommațasára (jiva) v. 189. 104. Ibid. 105. Ibid. 1(6. Ibid. Bhagawati, 7.3.275. Lokaprakāśa 1. 5. 107-108. 107. Ibid. 108. Sūtrakstānga II. 343 ; Bhagawati 7. 3. 275; Pannavanā, 1, 41, pp. 1.
Lohaprakása, 1. 5. 77 ; 5. 107-108. 109. Vide Lokaprakasa 1. 5. 88-92 : Uttaradhyayana 36. 97, 98, 99. 110. Jivavicāra, v. 12. Paņņavanā, 1. 54. 7. 85 ; Lokaprakāga 1. 5, 24, 111. Pannavaņā 1. 54. 7. 85 ; Lokaprakasa 1.5, 84. 112. Biology, p. 126. 113. Lokāprakasa 1. 5. 33. 34, 5. 107-8
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