Apparatus for separating plant material from a harvested plant

An apparatus for separating plant material from a stem of a harvested plant, the apparatus having a frame, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a planar sheet attached to the frame, the planar sheet having a thickness thereof and an aperture therethrough, the aperture having a length defining a longitudinal axis and a width equal to or greater than the thickness of the planar sheet, the width being operable to receive the stem when the stem is pushed through the aperture but operable to sever the plant material extending from the stem;
• and
• (b) a motor-driven blade defining a cutting edge dimensioned for sweeping adjacent to one side of the planar sheet, the cutting edge being aligned with the longitudinal axis when adjacent to the aperture and operable to cut a portion of the stem that protrudes through the aperture to the one side as the stem is pushed through the aperture.