Cotyledons

Title

Cotyledons

Definition

Seed leaves, i.e., the embryonic leaves.

Notes

In Lecythidaceae, cotyledons are of four types -- 1) the leaf-like (= foliaceous) cotyledons of species of Cariniana, Couratari, and Couroupita; 2) the fleshy, irregular (= plano-convex) cotyledons of all species of Gustavia; 3) the bowed cotyledons of perhaps Allantoma decandra (more study of the cotyledons of the species of Allantoma are needed); and 4) the absent cotyledons (= macropodial embryo) of species of Bertholletia, Corythophora, Eschweilera, Lecythis, and Grias). If species of Allantoma do not have bowed cotyledons, they most likely have absent cotyledons. Although one type is cotyledons absent, at least Bertholletia seems to have small scales that represent vestigial cotyledons.

Related Terms

Cotyledons leaf-like (= cotyledons foliaceous)

Cotyledons fleshy, irregular (= cotyledons plano-convex)

Cotyledons bowed

Cotyledons absent (= embryo macropodial)

Broader Terms

Seedling