What function do cotyledons preform before germination?
Before germination, they are used primarily for storage of nutrients and the seed’s food supply: “The cotyledons contain (or in the case of gymnosperms and monocotyledons, have access to) the stored food reserves of the seed. As these reserves are used up, the cotyledons may turn green and begin photosynthesis, or may wither as the first true leaves take over food production for the seedling. Cotyledons may be either epigeal, expanding on the germination of the seed, throwing off the seed shell and become photosynthetic above the ground; or hypogeal, not expanding, remaining below ground and not becoming photosynthetic. The latter is typically the case where the cotyledons act as a storage organ, as in many nuts and acorns.
