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Properties, Structure & Functions of Plant in Jaina Agamic Works 23
the soil is accomplished by the combined forces of transpiration1 and root pressure.2
Plant Sap
Plant sap (sineha or rasa or kşira) is somewhat analogous to the blood plasma of man and higher animals. It is a complex solution of many substances both organic and inorganic which, as pointed out, are transported from one part of the plant to another by the combined forces of transpiration and root pressure. The substances present and their concentrations vary greatly in different plants and in various parts of the same plant. Water is absorbed by the epidermal cells of the roots and moved to all parts of the plant."
Plant Excretion
A striking difference between plants and animals as found in Jaina Biology is that plants excrete little or no waste (Khala). Nitrogenous compounds may be released during the metabolic process of plant, but instead of being excreted as waste, they are probably reutilized in the synthesis of new paryapti (Vital force).
Since plants are lomaharins (i. e. absorbers of nutrients through the epidermal cells of the roots, (etc.) and they neither ingest proteins
1.
Ibid., 5. 107-8, pp. 367-8.
2. Sūtrakṛtānga II, 3.43, (Sineham)
Lokaprakāśa. 32 (rasa), 5. 84 (Ksira)
3. Sūtrakṛtanga II. 3. 43-44.
4.
Lokaprakāśa, I. 5. 32-33, p. 353. 5. 107-8; p. 367-8.
5. Sakṣiram vāpi niḥkṣiraṁ patram güḍhasiram ca yat/ Alakṣyamāna patrãrddhadvayasandhi ca yad bhavet (84) -Lokaprakāśa I, 5. 84, p. 363.
6.
Lokaprakāśa, I, 5. 33; 5. 107-8, p. 367-8. Mülam syat bhumisambaddhaṁ tatra kandaḥ samāśritaḥ/ Tatra Skandha iti nitho bijantaḥ syuryutaḥsame // (107) "Ataḥ prthvigatarasamāhāranti sam apyami/ Yavat phalam puşpasthaṁ bījaṁ phalasamgataṁ// (108) 7. "Sarirena oyā hāro tãyãi phaseņa (tatya ya phase ya) lomā āharo, pakkhevāhāro puna, kavalio hoi nāyavvo (v. 181).
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