cotyledon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an embryonic leaf in a seed, often serving as the seedling's first leaf or food store

   The bean seed opens to reveal two thick cotyledons around the young shoot.

2. 2
   noun

   an individual lobe of the placenta in ruminants and some other mammals

   Each placental cotyledon forms part of the exchange surface between the ewe and the fetus.

From New Latin cotyledon and Greek kotyledon, 'cup-shaped hollow,' from kotyle, 'cup.' The botanical term was applied to the cup- or lobe-shaped embryonic leaves visible within many seeds.

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