Cotyledons

cotyledon (/ˌkɒtɪˈliːdən/; “seed leaf” from Latin cotyledon,[1] from Greek: κοτυληδών kotylēdōn, gen.: κοτυληδόνος kotylēdonos, from κοτύλη kotýlē “cup, bowl”) is a significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant, and is defined as “the embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, one or more of which are the first to appear from a germinating seed.”

The cotyledons may be ephemeral, lasting only days after emergence, or persistent, enduring at least a year on the plant. The cotyledons contain (or in the case of gymnosperms and monocotyledons, have access to) the stored food reserves of the seed. As these reserves are used up, the cotyledons may turn green and begin photosynthesis, or may wither as the first true leaves take over food production for the seedling.

Leave a Reply