Cotyledon

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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This seedling germinated producing two plain-looking cotyledons later followed by two normal-looking leaves that are small copies of the adult leaves.

Seed-leaf; the primary leaf or leaves in the embryo; in some plants the cotyledon always remains in the seed-coats and in others (as bean) it emerges on germination.

Gallery

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  cotyledon in formation before the accumulation of the reserves seen at Judas-tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
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  Comparison of a monocot and dicot sprouting
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  A seedling of Maritime Pine with eight cotyledons

This article contains a definition from the Glossary of Gardening Terms.