The function of the cotyledon is to provide nourishment to the developing embryo within a seed. It stores and supplies nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, enabling the embryo to grow and germinate. The cotyledon serves as an energy reserve until the seedling can produce its own food through photosynthesis. In dicotyledonous plants, the cotyledons often emerge above the ground during germination and become the first leaves of the seedling.
