1. A reduced or scale-like leaf that appears early in plant development, typically at the base of a stem or before true leaves emerge.
Usage: botanical term; also called a scale leaf

Examples

• The cataphyll protects the delicate growing tip of the seedling.
• Bulbs are covered with cataphylls that shield the inner tissues.
• As the plant matures, cataphylls are replaced by photosynthetic leaves.
• The cataphyll serves as a protective sheath during dormancy.
• Botanists examine cataphylls to understand early plant development.