ˈkad.əˌfil noun
( -s )
Etymology: cata- + -phyll; intended as translation of German niederblatt, literally, lower leaf
: a rudimentary scalelike leaf (as a bud scale) that precedes the foliage leaves of a plant — compare hypsophyll
• cata·phyl·la·ry | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|filərē adjective