cataphyll

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English

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Etymology

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From cata- +‎ -phyll; intended as translation of German Niederblatt, literally, “lower leaf”.[1]

Noun

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cataphyll (plural cataphylls)

  1. (botany) A leaf, sometimes abortive, sometimes persistent, that does not develop into a photosynthetic structure, but instead fulfills protective or storage functions. Examples include cotyledons, bud-scales, glochids, rhizome-scales, and bulb-scales.
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Translations

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References

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  1. ^ cataphyll”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.