Cotyledon

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cotyledon \Cot`y*le"don\ (k?t`?-l?"d?n), n. [Gr.??? a cupshaped
     hollow, fr. ???. See {Cotyle}.]
     1. (Anat.) One of the patches of villi found in some forms of
        placenta.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. (Bot.) A leaf borne by the caulicle or radicle of an
        embryo; a seed leaf.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: 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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cotyledon
       n : embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants [syn: {seed leaf}]