Final answer:
The leafy decoration on a coat of arms usually consists of foliage such as laurel or oak leaves. These elements bear historical symbolic meanings of victory, strength, and endurance and are used to signify virtues, accomplishments, or the authority of the bearer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "leafy stuff" on the sides of a coat of arms often refers to various forms of foliage, such as laurel or oak leaves, that serve as ornamentation. Historically, these elements carry rich symbolic meanings. For instance, laurel leaves are commonly associated with victory and achievement, deriving from their use in crowning victors in ancient athletic competitions and heroes in battle. Oak leaves symbolize strength and endurance, reflecting the durable nature of the oak tree. Foliage in heraldic imagery is not just decorative but signifies virtues and accomplishments of the bearer or the authority and legitimacy of a ruling power.
These plant motifs have been used throughout various cultures and periods, including the times of the Anglo-Saxons, medieval France, and even into the Stalinist era. Their use and specific representation can vary, as shown in Stalin's portraits enclosed in a garland of laurel after the victory in the war. In ancient rituals and in relation to the cult of the dead, wreaths made from these leaves played an essential role, symbolizing purification, protection, and the promotion of fertility.