Knowra Monocotyledon Monocotyledon A flowering plant whose seed typically has one embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. Monocotyledons form one of the major angiosperm lineages, including grasses, orchids, and palms.
Cotyledon : An embryonic leaf within a seed that may store or absorb nutrients for a developing plant. The single cotyledon is the defining feature behind the name monocotyledon.
Parallel venation : A leaf-vein pattern in which major veins run alongside one another along the blade. Parallel veins are common in monocots, though not universal.
Poaceae : The grass family, a diverse group of monocots that includes cereals, bamboos, and forage grasses. Grasses are the dominant monocots in many open habitats and include major food crops.
Eudicot : A major angiosperm lineage whose members typically have two cotyledons and pollen with three apertures or their derivatives. Eudicots are the principal flowering-plant lineage contrasted with monocots.
Angiosperm : A flowering plant that produces seeds enclosed within an ovary, which typically develops into a fruit. Monocots are one of the major evolutionary lineages within flowering plants.
Fibrous root system : A root system composed of many similarly sized roots, often spreading near the soil surface. Many monocots replace the embryonic primary root with a network of adventitious roots.
Orchidaceae : The orchid family, a large flowering-plant family known for specialized flowers and diverse pollination strategies. Orchids are one of the largest and most distinctive monocot families.
Magnoliid : An early-diverging angiosperm lineage that includes magnolias, laurels, and black pepper. Magnoliids show that flowering-plant diversity is not divided only between monocots and eudicots.
Vascular plant : A plant with specialized tissues that transport water, minerals, and sugars through its body. Monocots share vascular tissues with other land-plant lineages.
Adventitious root : A root that develops from a stem, leaf, or other non-root tissue. Adventitious roots commonly form the mature root systems of monocots.
Show all 20