Hypogeal germination (from Ancient Greek ὑπόγειος [hupógeios] 'below ground', from ὑπό [hupó] 'below' and γῆ [gê] 'earth, ground') is a botanical term indicating that the germination of a plant takes place below the ground. An example of a plant with hypogeal germination is the pea (Pisum sativum). The opposite of hypogeal is epigeal (above-ground germination).