Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 6

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

Page 263

28
.
Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 6
water and minerals needed by plants for their growth. The soil is another major ecosystem containing a large number of different kinds of animals, bacteria and plants that comprise an inter-related biologic complex.
The Stem and Its Functions
The stem which is a tree including trunk, branches and twigs4 is the connecting link between the roots, where water and minerals enter the plant, and the leaves, 5 which manufacture food. The vascular tissues of the stem are continuous with those of root and leaf and provide a pathway for the exchange of materials, the stem and its branches support the leaves so that each leaf is exposed to as much sunlight as possible. Stems also support flowers and fruits? in proper position for reproduction to occur. The stem is the source of all leaves and flowers produced by a plant, for its growing points produce primordia of leaves
1. "Te Jivā tesim ņāņāvihajoņiyāṇam, pudhaviņam, siņehamāhāremti
te jivā āhāremti pudhavisariram ausariram teusariram váyusariram vanassaisariran/"
Ibid. Lokaprakāśa 5. 1028. 2. Sūtrakstānga II. 3. 3. “Kaņdattāe khamdhattāe tayattāe sālattaem pavālattae/"
Sūtrakstanga II. 3. 46. “Mūle kamde khamdhe tayā ya sāle pavāle patte ya / pupphe palahie viya patteyam jivațbāņaim
Vide Lokaprakāśa, 5. 77. Pannavana, 41, pp. 17-18. Mülakanda-skandha patrādi gatajiva-samkhyeyapramāņam ca,
Gommațsāra, (Jivakāņda), 189. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid; Bhagavati, 7.3.275; Lokaprakāśa, 5.107-108. 7. Ibid.
Ibid. II. 3. 43. Bhagavati 7.3.275. Paņņavanā, 41, pp. 17-18. Lokaprakāśa 5. 77; 5. 107-108.