Relating to or occurring above the surface of the earth or soil; in botany, describing seeds that germinate with the seed leaves appearing above ground.
From Greek 'epi' (upon) + 'geia' (earth) + '-al' (adjective suffix). The term describes things that develop or exist on the earth's surface rather than below it.
When bean seeds sprout, the cotyledons (seed leaves) pop up above the soil—that's epigeal germination; contrast this with peas, where the seed leaves stay underground, which is hypogeal germination.
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