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Term Definition
Albumen General term for the nutritive tissue of the seed located between the embryo and seed coat.
Albuminate (albuminous) With albumen
Anisocotylous Referring to seedlings in which the cotyledons differ in shape and/or size.
Aril (arillate) A fleshy covering or appendage of a seed derived from the funicle. Aril of a Sapindaceae. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Arillode A false aril derived from the integument (seed coat) but not from the funicle as is a true aril; in practice any outgrowth of the seed for which the origin has not been established. Aril of a Sapindaceae. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Arilloid An aril-like structure associated with a seed. Aril of a Sapindaceae. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Basal aril An aril located at the base of the seed. A basal aril of a seed. Drawing by B. Angell.
Basal-lateral aril An aril starting at the base and extending part way up the side of the seed. Basal-lateral aril of Lecythis mesophylla. Photo by R. Aguilar.
Caruncle An appendage or outgrowth at the point of attachment of the seed to the funicle. Compare with aril. Open fruit of Gustavia dubia. Photo by J. Batista.
Carunculate Possessing a caruncle. Compare with strophiole. Open fruit of Gustavia dubia. Photo by J. Batista.
Cellular endosperm A type of endosperm development in which cell walls develop starting with the first cell division. Open fruit of Gustavia dubia. Photo by J. Batista.
Chalaza The part of an ovule or seed opposite the micropyle. In this part of the embryo sac the integument(s) are not differentiated from the nucellus.. Ovule terminalogy.
Circumferentially winged seed A wing completely surrounding the circumference of the seed. Circumferentially winged seeds and leaf-like cotyledons of Couratari. Drawing by B. Angell.
Coma (Comose) Referring to a structure, such as a seed, the bears tufts of hairs. Wind-dispersed seeds are often comose. Comose fruits and seeds. Drawing by B. Angell.
Cotyledon The leaves (one in monocots and two in dicots) of an embryo that often emerge when the seed germinates. Some cotyledons, however, remain within the seed coat. Opposite, leaf-like cotyledons of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Cotyledons Seed leaves, i.e., the embryonic leaves. Seedling of Peltogyne purpurea. Photo by R. Aguilar.
Cotyledons absent A massive embryo that shows no obvious cotyledons Cotyledons absent. Photo by S. A. Mori
Cotyledons arched Cotyledons that are bowed in such a way that there is an air space between which is usually an adaptation for water dispersal. Water dispersed fruits. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Cotyledons carnose Cotyledons thick and providing nutrition to the developing embryo and seedling. When the cotyledons are carnose in the Sapotaceae endosperm is usually lacking. Same as cotyledons fleshy. Fruit and seeds of Gustavia hexapetala. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Cotyledons cryptocotylar A type of seed germination in which the cotyledons remain within the seed coat at germination. Compare with phanerocotylar. Seed germination of an oak tree. Photo by C. A. Gracie.
Cotyledons epigeal At germination the cotyledons emerge from the seed coat above the ground. A seedling of a Bignoniaceae. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Cotyledons fleshy Cotyledons very thick, not leaf-like; e.g., the cotyledons of a bean. Water dispersed fruits. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Cotyledons foliaceous (=cotyledons leaf-like) Referring to cotyledons that are not carnose but instead are thin and leaf-like. In the Sapotaceae, species with foliaceous cotyledons generall have endosperm. Seedling features of a Sapotaceae with foliaceous cotyledons. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Cotyledons leaf-like Cotyledons that look like leaves. Cultivated seedling of Couroupita guianensis.   Photo by S. A. Mori.
Elaiosome A fleshy, oily outgrowth of the seed coat that often attracts ants for dispersing the seeds. Compare with aril and sarcotesta. Fruits, seeds, and elaiosomes. Photos by C. A. Gracie.
Embryo The young sporophytic plant found inside of the seed. Embryos. Drawing by M. Sashital.
Embryo sac The female gametophyte of angiosperms (flowering plants). Same as megagametophyte. A mature megagametophyte of an angiosperm. Drawing by M. Sashital.
Embryotega A small circular thickening near the seed scar on the seeds of some plants; e.g., Commelinaceae. A mature megagametophyte of an angiosperm. Drawing by M. Sashital.
Endosperm The energy-rich food supply of the seed that is formed by the fusion of the sperm and polar nuclei of the female gametophyte, initially surrounds the embryo, and is often apparent in the seed; some seeds, however, do not have any apparent endosperm. Aril and ruminate endosperm of Myristicaceae. Photos by C. A. Gracie.
Eophyll The first true leaf of a seedling; i.e., the first leaf to appear after the cotyledon(s). Seedling of Peltogyne purpurea. Photo by R. Aguilar.
Epicotyl That part of the main axis of an embryo or the young stem of a seedling located above the point of attachment of the cotyledons. The epicotyl gives rise to the leaves, the first of which are called eophylls. Seedling features of a Sapotaceae with foliaceous cotyledons. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Epigeal germination Referring to a type of seed germination in which the cotyledons are held at or above the ground. Compare with hypogeal. Seedling of Peltogyne purpurea. Photo by R. Aguilar.
Eugenioid embryo A type of embryo found in the Myrtaceae in which the cotyledons are thick, separate, and plano-convex (like those of a bean) and the hypocotyl is a short protrusion, or the cotyledons are fused partially or completely into a single mass and the hypocotyl is not distinguishable. Compare with myrcioid embryo and myrtoid embryo. Embryo types in the Myrtaceae. Drawing by M. L. Kawaski.
Exalbuminous Without albumen. Embryo types in the Myrtaceae. Drawing by M. L. Kawaski.
Exostome That part of the seed coat surrounding the micropyle. Embryo types in the Myrtaceae. Drawing by M. L. Kawaski.
Germinate Emerge from a dormant state, e.g., when a seed emerges from the seed coat and develops into a seedling. Embryo types in the Myrtaceae. Drawing by M. L. Kawaski.
Grain See caryopsis. Embryo types in the Myrtaceae. Drawing by M. L. Kawaski.
Helobial endosperm A type of endosperm in which two unequal cells develop differently, the larger one in a noncellular manner (see nuclear endosperm) and the smaller one in various ways. Embryo types in the Myrtaceae. Drawing by M. L. Kawaski.
Hilum (hilar) A scar on the seed indicating where the funicle was attached. Seedlings of a Sapotaceae. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Hypocotyl The part of the main axis of a seed embryo or a very young seedling found below the cotyledonary node. A seedling of a Bignoniaceae. Photo by S. A. Mori.