In
horticulture and
agriculture, a cutting is a form of plant
propagation in which a plant's stem is prodded to root. Generally this is done by sticking a stem of the plant in dirt or another medium. Sometimes the plant will naturally root but often enzymes such as ABA are dusted on the base of the stem to promote rooting. Cuttings may be made from new growth, or from older wood, and sometimes even from roots or individual leaves.
Cuttings are often used in place of propagation via seed because unlike plants propagated by seed, plants from cuttings have the exapt same genotype as the parent plant, and desirable cultivars can be retained. This can be a good thing for horticulture, when everyone wants their flowers to look the same, but is bad in attempting to restore a natural system because it reduces genetic diversity. Other times, cuttings are used simply because they reach maturity faster than seedlings.