The roots of garlic, onion, and leek, when they are moist, and their protrusion whether it is moist or dry, and the stalk that is directly opposite the food, the roots of lettuce, round radish, and oblong radish, [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yehudah says: The large root of the radish combines, but its fibrous root does not combine. The roots of mint and rue, and of field greens and garden greens that one uprooted in order to transplant them, and the spine of an ear [of grain], and [the grain’s] covering. R’ Eliezer says: Also the dust covering. These contract tumah, convey tumah, and combine.

These contract tumah and convey tumah, but do not combine: The roots of garlic, onions, and leek when they are dry, and the stalk that is not directly opposite the food, and the handle of a grapevine branch, a handbreadth on either side; the handle of the cluster of grapes, whatever [its length] may be; and the tail of a cluster that one had bared; and four handbreadths of the handle of the ‘‘broom’’ of the date palm; and three handbreadths of the stalk of an ear [of grain]; and three [handbreadths of] the handle of all [crops] that are cut; and those [crops] for which it is not their norm to be cut, their handles and their roots whatever their [length] may be; and the bristles of ears [of grain]: these contract tumah and convey tumah, but do not combine.

These do not contract tumah and do not convey tumah and do not combine: The roots of kohlrabi stems, and the regenerating roots of spinach-beet and turnip, those [plants] that are normally clipped but were uprooted. R’ Yose rules all of them tamei, but rules the roots of kohlrabi stems and of turnips tahor.

All handles of foods that one crushed on the threshing floor are tahor. R’ Yose rules [the crushed stalks] tamei. A snippet of a cluster of grapes that one bared is tahor. [But] if one left a single berry on it, it is tamei. A spikelet of dates that one bared is tahor. [But] if one left on a single date it is tamei. And so too with legumes, a pod that one bared is tahor. [If] one left on a single berry, it is tamei. R’ Elazar ben Azariah rules [the pod] of fava beans tahor, and rules [the pod] of [other] beans tamei, because [a person] desires the feel of them.