Meanings
nouncataphyll (plural cataphylls)
plural cataphylls
- biologyA leaf, sometimes abortive, sometimes persistent, that does not develop into a photosynthetic structure, but instead fulfills protective or storage functions. Examples include cotyledons, bud-scales, glochids, rhizome-scales, and bulb-scales.
Origin
From cata- + -phyll; intended as translation of German Niederblatt, literally, “lower leaf”.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French cataphylle
- cataphyllea leaf that fulfils protective or storage functions
Italian catafillo
- catafilloa leaf that fulfils protective or storage functions
Portuguese catáfilo
- catáfiloa leaf that fulfils protective or storage functions
Spanish catáfilo, catáfila
- catáfiloa leaf that fulfils protective or storage functions
- catáfilaa leaf that fulfils protective or storage functions
Cite this entry
APA
cataphyll. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cataphyll
MLA
“cataphyll.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cataphyll. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cataphyll,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cataphyll.
Source: cataphyll on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.