Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons

What is a monocotyledon?

A monocotyledon is a flowering plant that produces seeds which have only one cotyledon. Examples of monocotyledons are corn, rice, coconut, wheat and banana. Monocotyledons are sometimes called monocots.

What is a dicotyledon?

A dicotyledon is a flowering plant which produces seeds which have two cotyledons. Examples of dicotyledons are peas, beans, mangoes, sunflowers and guavas. Dicotyledons are sometimes called dicots.

Differences between monocotyledons and dicotyledons

1. Seeds

The seeds of monocotyledons have only one cotyledon. Look at the diagram below. Notice that this seed has just one cotyledon.

This is a diagram of a corn seed which has been cut open. You can see that that it has only one cotyledon. (Image by Sarah Greenwood and used under a creative commons licence. Some changes have been made to the original image)

The seeds of dicotyledons have two cotyledons. Look at the seed of the ice cream bean below.

This seed has two cotyledons. (Photo by Vilsekogen and used under a creative commons license)

2. Leaves

The leaves of monocots are usually long and slender. The veins of the leaves of monocots are parallel. Look at the picture of the leaf below.

The leaves of the corn plant (a monocot) are narrow. Also, you can see that the veins of the plant run in the same direction.

The leaves of dicots are usually broader and their veins spread out in different directions. Look at the picture of a maple leaf below.

The leaves of the maple tree ( a dicot) are broad. You can also see that the veins in the leaf spread out in different directions.

3. Roots

Monocotyledons have fibrous roots which spread out in many directions. Look at the picture below.

This grass (a monocot) has fibrous roots. They spread out in many directions.

Dicotyledons have one main root called a tap root with smaller roots branching out from it. Look at the picture below.

This carrot plant ( a dicot), has one main root or tap root. This tap root is the part of the carrot plant that we eat.

4. Flowers: Monocots usually have flowers with petals in multiples of three. Dicots usually have flowers with petals in multiples of four or five. Look at the flowers in the pictures below.