cotyledon

 
Pronunciation: /ˌkɒtɪˈliːd(ə)n/

noun

  • 1 Botany an embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, one or more of which are the first leaves to appear from a germinating seed.
  • 2a succulent plant of the stonecrop family, some kinds of which are grown as ornamentals.
    • Genus Cotyledon and related genera, family Crassulaceae: several species

Derivatives

cotyledonary

adjective

Origin:

mid 16th century (denoting a patch of villi on the placenta of mammals): from Latin, 'navelwort' (which has cup-shaped leaves), from Greek kotulēdōn 'cup-shaped cavity', from kotulē 'cup'