a single leaf; a single petal; a flake; a piece (of paper)
Refers to one thin, flat, often delicate piece of something, such as a leaf, petal, snowflake, or sheet of paper. Often used in poetic or descriptive language.
A single cherry blossom petal is dancing in the wind.
A snowflake fell onto my palm.
花びら means 'petal' in general, while ひとひら specifically means 'one petal' and carries a more literary feel.
Kanji spelling given, but rare in modern use. The reading ひとひら is not obvious from the kanji, so learners may encounter it mainly in literary or poetic contexts.
Alternate kanji spelling. Even rarer than 一片 and easily confused with 一枚 (いちまい). Not recommended for active use.
Compound of ひと (one) and ひら (thin flat object, piece). The origin of ひら is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese word often used in counting thin, flat items.