Petunia: Distinguishing Characteristics Between Monocots and Dicots, Flower Ovary
In the center of this petunia, one can just barely make out the outlines of its ovary.
The ovary of a flower contains ovules, which when fertilized can form a seed. The
petunia also provides a clear example of the distinguishing features between
monocots and dicots. As one can see the petunia has four stamens. Dicots often have
organs in sets of four or five, as opposed to monocots, which have sexual organs in
multiples of three (see lilies).
Begonias: Distinguishing Characteristics Between Monocots and Dicots, ATP
These begonias’ beautiful red color attracts many pollinators. And yet the process of
building up these lovely flowers was not so easy as these begonias might have you
think. The plant first had to harvest energy from the sun, then convert that energy
into sugar, and then break that sugar down into usable energy. Only then could the
plant grow, and build its beautiful flowers. Throughout this entire process, energy is
carried in the form of ATP. Adenosine triphosphate is a very useful way to tore
energy; whenever one of the three phosphate groups breaks off, convenient energy
is released. Not surprisingly, ATP not only serves as a carrier of energy within
photosynthesis and cell respiration, but is also the most important end product of
cell respiration (cell respiration can produce up to a whopping 38 ATP molecules).
Begonias are also a good example of dicots. As the picture shows, the veins of the
leaves run at distinct angles to each other. Compare these to the parallel veins of
leaves in the picture of the hosta (a monocot).
Lily: Distinguishing Characteristics Between Monocots and Dicots, Anther and
Filament of Stamens
The long feathery stalks in the middle of the lily are not just for show. They are
stamens. The actual stalk is called the filament, while the sac on the end is called the
anther. The anther is the site of the production of pollen, and in turn the male
gametes necessary to fertilization. Lilies are a prime example of monocots. One can
count six organs within the flower. A monocot’s organs always come in multiples of
three, while a dicot’s organs come only in sets of four or five.