What is "curlings"

Usage examples of "curlings".

They talked to each other by the slight bendings of their stems, the curlings of their leaves, and mainly by the drifts of fragrance that rode the steady current of air that flowed from the Eldest down the gallery past all the rest.

Maybe he was just overtired, but somehow, looking at the curlings of the Chagrian’s naked head-tentacles as they twisted across his chest, he found himself hop­ing that Obi-Wan hadn’t been lying to him about Sidious.

The paper, after a few obstinate curlings, caught fire, and Frere, blowing the young flame with his breath, the bark began to burn.