cotyledon Hear it!

cotyledon Definition

coty·ledon (kät′ə lēd′'n)

noun

the first single leaf or one of the first pair of leaves produced by the embryo of a flowering plant, or any of various similar structures found in conifers

Etymology: ModL < L, name of a plant < Gr kotylēdōn < kotylē, a hollow, cavity

Related Forms:

cotyledon Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • seedling: Oxalis corniculata: A and B the almost rudimentary pulvini of the cotyledons of two rather old seedlings, viewed as transparent objects.
  • specie: In the same genus Oxalis the cotyledons of certain species stand vertically up, and those of other species vertically down, at night.

Converse of object

  • have: Secondly if the seedlings were of genuine cress ( L. sativum ) they would have lobed cotyledons and taste " hot " .
  • pass: The placenta appeared but was incomplete ( I have since passed one cotyledon - still waiting for another, at 27 march 2004!

Adjective modifier

  • enlarged: In certain species of Streptocarpus no functional SAM is present and the plants form only one enlarged cotyledon.
  • rudimentary: It breaks through the ground in an arched form, with the rudimentary cotyledons closed or in contact.

Modifies a noun

  • stage: Nutrient solutions lacking N, P or Ca produced plants which did not grow beyond the cotyledon stage.