The motif of the flowering sprig appears throughout the art and architecture of Shah Jahan's reign. Such imagery seems to have its origins in English herbal prints, which depict multi-stemmed specimens with flowers at various stages of maturation. While elements of this representation are idealized -- all of the leaves face the viewer and none of the flowers are past their prime -- it is probably based on a Bauhinia, a plant with five-petaled flowers and bi-lobed leaves. It also bears some resemblance to a dictamnus, another flowering plant found in Asia.

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