A cotyledon is a significant part of the seed of a flowering plant (angiosperm) that serves as the first leaf or leaves to emerge from the seed during germination. It is an embryonic leaf and plays a crucial role in the initial stages of a plants development by providing nutrients to the young plant before it can produce true leaves and begin photosynthesis. In some plants, cotyledons can also store food, supporting the seedling until it can establish its own root system and foliage. In general, plants are classified as either dicots, which typically have two cotyledons, or monocots, which generally have one.
