Word Study
Cotyledon
CIDE DICTIONARY
Cotyledon, n. [Gr. a cupshaped hollow, fr. . See Cotyle.].
- One of the patches of villi found in some forms of placenta. [1913 Webster]
- A leaf borne by the caulicle or radicle of an embryo; a seed leaf. [1913 Webster]" Many plants, as the bean and the maple, have two cotyledons, the grasses only one, and pines have several. In one African plant (
Welwitschia ) the cotyledons are permanent and grow to immense proportions." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Cotyledon, n.
1 an embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants.
2 any succulent plant of the genus Umbilicus, e.g. pennywort.
1 an embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants.
2 any succulent plant of the genus Umbilicus, e.g. pennywort.
Derivative
cotyledonary adj. cotyledonous adj.
Etymology
L, = pennywort, f. Gk kotuledon cup-shaped cavity f. kotule cup
For further exploring for "Cotyledon" in Webster Dictionary Online