Tea Plantation Picture

Tea is unique because only its vegetative parts - the two leaves and the bud - are commercially exploited. Tea is also maintained as a low bush ina continuous phase of vegetative growth. Both these aspects call for manipulation of plant parts for optimal productivity and growth.

The term 'flush' describes the growth by the apical bud between two successive phases of dormancy. The phase of dormancy or resting period of the shoot is banjhi phase, and the apical bud is then described as the banjhi bud. This is enclosed by two bud scales or cataphylls called the janams. The position of janam or fish leaf on the shoot is of great importance in considering the standard of plucking.