cot·y·le·don (k t l- d n)n. 1. Botany A leaf of the embryo of a seed plant, which upon germination either remains in the seed or emerges, enlarges, and becomes green. Also called seed leaf. 2. Anatomy One of the lobules constituting the uterine side of the mammalian placenta, consisting mainly of a rounded mass of villi. [Latin cotyl d n, navelwort, from Greek kotuldn, from kotul, hollow object.]cot y·ledon·ary (-dn- r), coty·ledon·al (-dn- l), coty·ledo·nous (-dn-s) adj. |
cotyledon [kot-ill-ee-don]
Noun
the first leaf produced by a plant embryo [Greek kotulē cup]
| cotyledon (ktl-dn) A leaf of the embryo of a seed-bearing plant. Most cotyledons emerge, enlarge, and become green after the seed has germinated. Cotyledons either store food for the growing embryo (as in monocotyledons) or absorb food that has been stored in the endosperm (as in other angiosperms) for eventual distribution to the growing parts of the embryo. Also called seed leaf. See more at eudicotyledonmonocotyledon |
cotyledon - embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plantsHow to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
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