[hahy-puh-kot-l] 
| the part of a plant embryo directly below the cotyledons, forming a connection with the radicle. |
hy·po·cot·yl (hī'pə-kŏt'l)  (click for larger image in new window) n. The part of the axis of a plant embryo or seedling plant that is below the cotyledons. [hypo- + cotyl(edon).] |
| hypocotyl (hī'pə-kŏt'l) Pronunciation Key
The part of a plant embryo or seedling that lies between the radicle and the cotyledons. Upon germination, the hypocotyl pushes the cotyledons above the ground to develop. It eventually becomes part of the plant stem. Most seed-bearing plants have hypocotyls, but the grasses have different, specialized structures. |
pəˈkɒt