Angiosperms or flowering plants can be monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous. Also classified as monocots or dicots, the primary difference between them is the type of embryo present in the seed. Across the world, there are more than two hundred and fifty thousand species of angiosperms or flowering plants. The list includes all kinds of flowering herbs and shrubs, trees and everything in between. All these two hundred and fifty thousand species, and counting since new species are being discovered as we discuss this, can be classified as monocots or dicots.
Monocots and Dicots: Explained!
Monocot, monocots and monocotyledonae, all mean the same thing. They are any flowering plant which has just one cotyledon in a seed. These species or flowering plants are referred to as monocotyledonous plants. Dicots, dicot or dicotyledonae, all mean the same thing. They are any flowering plant which has two cotyledons in a seed. These species or flowering plants are referred to as dicotyledonous plants. Maize, wheat, grass and sugarcane are monocots. Neem, sunflower and mango are dicots.
Difference Between Monocots and Dicots
The main difference between monocots and dicots is the number of cotyledons in the seeds. Other than that, there are some differences between monocots and dicots, physically and characteristically that we shall discuss here.
Dicots are known to have vascular bundles, netlike veins forming rings and they also have tap roots. Monocots have parallel veins. They have fibrous roots and complex vascular bundles. The flowers or floral portions of monocots are observed in the counts of three. Dicots have flowers or floral parts in multiples of five, at times four.
The pollens in dicots have three furrows or pores. The pollens in monocots have one furrow or pore. Dicots have reticulated veins in the leaves. Monocots tend to have scattered vascular bundles in the stems. They may or may not be any pattern.
Dicots have solid stems and roots develop from the radicle. Monocots have adventitious root system. Dicots have well grown flowers. Monocots have incomplete flowers. Dicots have secondary growth. Monocots don’t have any secondary growth or cambium growth. Dicots have hypogeal or epigeal germination of seeds. Monocots have only hypogeal germination of seeds.
Dicots and monocots may look similar or even identical to those who are not accustomed with the differences and hence cannot spot them. For those who are aware of the characteristic difference between monocots and dicots will easily spot the dissimilarities in the pollens, fruits and flowers.
