The scutellum is a component of the structure of barley, rice, maize and wheat seed, that is a modified seed leaf and it can also refer to the equivalent of a thin cotyledon in monocot. Although it is a very thin structure but it has a higher surface area and it serves to absorb nutrients from the endosperm during germination. An unidentified protein transporter is present in scutellum which is believed to facilitate starch movement from endosperm to the embryo.