Birds in the VMS

[-JKP-]

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I then have trouble understanding how the leaves can both be the mnemonic device (intentionally shaped into birds) but also the identifying part of the plant (at least somewhat botanically correct). It would seem more likely to me that, say, if the leaves are the identifying part, the mnemonic device would be in the roots or flowers.

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In herbal images of the "hound's head" plant, the head of a hound is usually drawn as the root, even though the identifying part is the elongated flower so... in that instance your expectation would be correct.