epicotyl

An Epicotyl is important for the beginning stages of a plants life. It is the region of a seedling stem above the stalks of the seed leaves of an embryo plant. It grows rapidly showing hypogeal germination and extends the stem above the soil surface. Epicotyls also form a hook during hypogeal germination. The epicotyl will expand and form the shoot apex and leaf primordia or "first true leaves"; but the cotyledon will stay below the ground.