Cataphyll

are covered with small flat pointed leaves called "scale leaves" or "cataphylls". In plant morphology, a cataphyll (sometimes also called a cataphyllum or cataphyll leaf ) is a reduced, small leaf. Many plants have both "true leaves" (euphylls), which perform most of the photosynthesis, and cataphylls, which are modified to perform other functions. Cataphylls include bracts, bracteoles and bud scales, as well as any small leaves that resemble scales, known as scale leaves. The functions of cataphylls, such as bud scales, may be short-lived, and they are often shed after their function is fulfilled.

are covered with small flat pointed leaves called "scale leaves" or "cataphylls". In plant morphology, a cataphyll (sometimes also called a cataphyllum or cataphyll leaf ) is a reduced, small leaf. Many plants have both "true leaves" (euphylls), which perform most of the photosynthesis, and cataphylls, which are modified to perform other functions. Cataphylls include bracts, bracteoles and bud scales, as well as any small leaves that resemble scales, known as scale leaves. The functions of cataphylls, such as bud scales, may be short-lived, and they are often shed after their function is fulfilled. ==Etymology== ); the cataphylls covering the bud show a little chlorophyll, but they shed instead of growing into photosynthetic leaves. Cataphyll comes from the Ancient Greek ("kata"), meaning "down", and ("phyllon"), meaning "leaf". ===Cotyledons as cataphylls=== Cotyledons are widely regarded as a class of cataphyll, though many kinds of cotyledons function as living tissue and remain alive until, at least, the end of their function, at which time they wither and may drop off. They begin as leaf rudiments. Many kinds accumulate nutrient materials for storage, starting to give up their stored material as the plant germinates. Some, such as the cotyledons of many legumes, conifers, and cucurbits, develop chlorophyll and perform the first photosynthesis for the germinating plant. ===Corm scales=== Like bulb-scales, corm scales are largely the basal parts of the photosynthetic leaves that show up above ground. Some species of cormous plants, such as some Lapeirousia, also produce cataphylls that act solely as tunic leaves for the corm. Unlike bulb-scales, however, the corm tunic has no significant storage function; that task is left to the parenchyma of the cortex of the corm. ==See also== Leaf shape Leaf size

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