Epigeal germination

Instead, the first leaflets are already folded up inside it, and photosynthesis starts to take place in it rather quickly.

Plants that show epigeal germination need external nutrients rather quickly in order to develop, so they are more frequent on nutrient-rich soils.

[1] Plants that show epigeal germination grow relatively fast, especially in the first phase when the leaflets unfold.

Because of this, they occur frequently in areas that experience regular flooding, for example at the river borders in the Amazon region.

The fast germination enables the plant to develop before the next flooding takes place.