Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 6

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 260

Properties, Structure & Functions of Plant in Jaina Agamic Works
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If an organism (e. g. creeper) is motile, it may respond to a stimulus by moving toward it for support.
When a seed is oriented in the ground in any way, the primitive root (müla) and shoot (ankura) of the developing embroyo grow;? the root grows down-ward and the shoot grows upward. Thus the root is positively geotropic and the shoot is negatively geotropic.
Transmission of Impulses of Plants
In a few plants responses to stimuli do occur rapidly enough to be readily seen. One of them is the response of the sensitive plant "Mimosa pudica" (Lajāvatilatā).4 Normally the leaves of this plant are horizontal, but if one of them is lightly touched, all the leaflets fold within two or three seconds. Touching one leaf sharply causes not only the stimulated leaf, but also the neighbouring leaves, to fold and drop. After a few minutes the leaves return to their original position,
Sleep Movements of Plants
Many plants change the position of their leaves or flower parts in the late afternoon or evening (Sandhya 6 and their parts return to their original position in the morning. Several kinds of flowers close at night and open in the morning with the sun rise and some open at night with the rise of the moon and closes respectively. These changes
1. Ibid. 2. (a) Joviya mūle Jivo soviya patte padhamayametti (b) Savvo vi Kisalao Khalu uggamamāno anamtãi bhaņio tti // See prajñāpanāvstti and Acārāngavstti, p. 359-6,
Vide Ibid., p. 36). 3. Ibid. 4. "Tathā Lajjātuprabbftināṁ hastādi samsparśātpatrasamkocâdikā parisphuţakriyopalabhyate //
Tarkarahasyadipikā, p. 158. 5. “Svapaprabodhasparśādihetukollāsasamkocāśravayopasarpaņādi višiştānekakriya /
Tarkarahasya, p. 159. 6. "Ghosälakyādipuşpānām ca Sandhyāyām /-Ibid., p. 158. 7. "Padmādināṁ Prātarvikāsanam/" Ibid., 8. “Kumudādinām tu Candrodaye / Ibid,