flowers: interest in small or only in large?

[rajam]

Not being a "botanist" and not knowing the "technical aspects" of  
"herbaceous," I'd like to mention that in Tamil literature all kinds  
of plants/flowers, small or big, large trees, shrubs, and vines--that  
grow in the ground, fields, on the shore, in the water (dirty or  
clear), in arid land, mountain slope--are mentioned and admired for  
their beauty or for certain innate quality that helps the poet to  
convey specific ideas, I guess. And, none of the early poems is pre- 
occupied with any of the plant's medicinal quality.

Best,
V.S. Rajam


On Mar 23, 2010, at 12:14 PM, Allen W Thrasher wrote:

> Do people share my feeling that Indian literature is little  
> interested in the beauty of small herbaceous flowering plants, but  
> only in large trees, shrubs, and vines?  Any difference in this  
> between Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Tamil literatures?  Any changes  
> under Islamic or British influence?
>
> Medical interest is of course another thing.
>
> Allen
>
> Allen W. Thrasher, Ph.D.
> Senior Reference Librarian
> Team Coordinator
> South Asia Team, Asian Division
> Library of Congress, Jefferson Building 150
> 101 Independence Ave., S.E.
> Washington, DC 20540-4810
> tel. 202-707-3732; fax 202-707-1724; athr at loc.gov
> The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the  
> Library of Congress.