cataphyll
noun
cata·phyll
ˈkatəˌfil
plural -s
: a rudimentary scalelike leaf (as a bud scale) that precedes the foliage leaves of a plant compare hypsophyll
cataphyllary adjective
¦⸗⸗¦filərē
Word History
Etymology
cata- + -phyll; intended as translation of German niederblatt, literally, lower leaf