epicotyl

American  

[ep-i-kot-l, ep-i-kot-l] / ˌɛp ɪˈkɒt l, ˈɛp ɪˌkɒt l /

noun

Botany.

1. (in the embryo of a plant) that part of the stem above the cotyledons.

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epicotyl British  

/ ˌɛpɪˈkɒtɪl /

noun

1. the part of an embryo plant stem above the cotyledons but beneath the terminal bud

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epicotyl Scientific  

/ ĕp′ĭ-kŏt′l /

1. The stem of a seedling or embryo located between the cotyledons and the first true leaves.

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Etymology

Origin of epicotyl

1875–80; epi- + Greek kotýlē cup

Example Sentences

In consequence of this injury it had emitted near the hypogean cotyledons two secondary shoots, and it was remarkable that both of these were arched, like the normal epicotyl in ordinary cases.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

That an arched hypocotyl or epicotyl, with the two legs fixed in the ground, should be able to circumnutate, seemed to us, until we had read Prof. Wiesner's observations, an inexplicable fact.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

This is the epicotyl, and another growing tip pointed toward the lower end of the kernel; this is the hypocotyl or the part which penetrates the soil and forms roots.

From The First Book of Farming by Goodrich, Charles Landon

This movement facilitates the withdrawal of the tip of the epicotyl or of the cotyledons, as the case may be, from within the seed-coats and from the ground.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

Late in the evening of the 28th, some hours after the above observations were completed, the epicotyl had grown much straighter, for the upper part now formed a widely open angle with the lower part.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles