Dicotyledon

Dicotyledon (often shortened to dicot) is one of the two major types of flowering plants (the other being monocotyledon), characterized by having two embryonic seed leaves or cotyledons.

Characteristics

Dicotyledons are distinguished by several characteristics. They have two embryonic leaves or cotyledons, net-veined leaves, vascular bundles in a ring, flower parts in multiples of four or five, and a tap root system.

Classification

The term "dicotyledon" is derived from the presence of two cotyledons in the seed. However, modern genetic research has shown that not all plants traditionally considered dicots are closely related. As a result, the dicots are no longer recognized as a formal taxonomic group in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, which instead recognizes a number of smaller, more closely related groups.

Examples

Examples of dicotyledons include many common plants such as roses, peas, geraniums, and maples.

See also

• Monocotyledon
• Cotyledon
• Angiosperm Phylogeny Group

References

• 
  White dead-nettle (Lamium album)
• 
  Dicotyledon plant
• 
  Young castor bean plant showing prominent cotyledons
• 
  Comparison of monocot and dicot plants