noun
a reduced or scarcely developed leaf at the start of a plant's life (i.e., cotyledons) or in the early stages of leaf development
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—cataphyllary, adj.
/kat"euh fil/, n. Bot.
a simplified leaf form, as a bud scale or a scale on a cotyledon or rhizome.
[CATA- + -PHYLL]
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cataphyll /katˈə-fil/
noun
A rudimentary or simplified leaf
ORIGIN: Gr kata down, and phyllon leaf
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cataphyllˈary adjective
Useful english dictionary. 2012.