The term 'prophyll' refers to the first 1 or 2 leaves on a lateral shoot. They are often characterised by a specific phyllotaxy and morphology (often squamous). In most Monocots, only 1 prophyll is developed which is inserted between the main axis and the lateral shoot (addorsed prophyll). In most dicots 2 prophylls are developed which are opposite to each other and laterally inserted at the the lateral axis (transversal prophylls).
