Refers specifically to young rice plants ready for transplanting. Often used in agricultural contexts or traditional poetry. Compare with 早苗 (さなえ), which is a more common term for rice seedlings.
See also: 早苗
When rice-planting season comes, farmers handle the rice seedlings with care.
The term combines 玉 (たま, 'jewel' or 'ball') and 苗 (なえ, 'seedling'), likely referring to the preciousness or shape of the young rice plants. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.