The above-mentioned affixes ka -- prāgivātkaḥ [[5.3.70]], come in expressing shortness of length or diminutive.,
The हृस्व here is opposed to दीर्घ or 'long'. Thus हृस्वोवृक्षः-वृक्षकः 'a small tree'. प्लक्षकः, स्तम्भकः ॥,
ह्रस्वे
Adhyāya 5 · Pāda 3 · Rule 86