MONOCOT
VS
DICOT
Classes of Plants
 Two
classes : Angiosperms and gymnosperms
 Angiosperm
= flowering plants
 Gymnosperms = non flowering plants (usually
involves reproduction through seeds)
Monocot vs. Dicot
 Angiosperms
(flowering plants) are divided
into monocots and dicots
 As the zygote grows into the embryo, the first
leaves of the young plant develop and are
called cotyledons (seed leaves)
 Monocots have one cotyledon (corn, lily, etc).
 Dicots have two cotyledons (bean, oak, etc).
Monocot vs. Dicot
 Number
of cotyledons: one vs. two
Monocot vs. Dicot
 Leaf
venation pattern:
 Monocot is parallel
 Dicot is net pattern
Monocot vs. Dicot root
 Monocot:
 Dicot:
Fibrous root
Tap root
Monocot vs. Dicot
 Flower
parts:
 Monocot:
 Dicot:
in groups of three
in groups of four or five
Monocot vs. Dicot
 Vascular
bundle position:
 Monocot:
the stem
 Dicot:
scattered throughout
arranged in a circle
Monocot vs. Dicot
 Stem
types:

Monocot: Herbaceous

Dicot: herbaceous or woody
Summary: Monocot vs. Dicot
Comparing Monocots vs. Dicots
FEATURE
MONOCOTS
DICOTS
Cotyledons
1
2
Leaf venation
parallel
broad
Root system
Fibrous
Tap
In 3’s
In 4’s or 5’s
Scattered
Arranged in a
circle
Either
Number of
floral parts
Vascular
bundle position
Woody or
herbaceous
Herbaceous