Here's a breakdown:
* Seed leaves: These are the first leaves that emerge from a germinating seed.
* Cotyledons: They are specialized leaves that serve as food storage organs for the developing embryo.
* Food storage: The cotyledons contain nutrients like starches, proteins, and oils that provide the embryo with energy and building blocks for growth until it can produce its own food through photosynthesis.
There are two types of cotyledons:
* Monocotyledons (monocots): These plants have one cotyledon (e.g., grasses, lilies, orchids).
* Dicotyledons (dicots): These plants have two cotyledons (e.g., beans, sunflowers, oaks).
Once the seedling is established, the cotyledons may wither and fall off as the true leaves take over photosynthesis.
