Monocotyledonous

Monocotyledonous plants, also known as monocots, are a major group of flowering plants that are traditionally recognized as a group, Monocotyledones, based on a number of shared characteristics. They are one of two major groups into which all flowering plants were formerly divided, the other being the dicotyledonous plants, or dicots.

Characteristics

Monocots are defined by a number of common characteristics. These include the presence of a single cotyledon in the seed, the arrangement of vascular bundles in a complex pattern in the stem, the presence of parallel veins in the leaf, and the arrangement of flower parts in multiples of three.

Taxonomy

The monocots include about 60,000 species, making up around one quarter of all flowering plants. They are a highly diverse group, including plants such as orchids, grasses, palms, and lilies. The largest family of monocots is the Orchidaceae, with more than 20,000 species.

Evolution

The monocots are thought to have evolved from a common ancestor with the dicots around 140-200 million years ago. They have since diversified into a wide range of forms and habitats, from tiny floating plants to large forest trees.

Economic importance

Many monocots are of great economic importance. They include many of the most important crop plants, such as rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane, and banana. They also include many ornamental plants, such as orchids, lilies, and tulips.

See also

• Flowering plant
• Dicotyledon
• Cotyledon
• Orchidaceae

Monocotyledonous Resources
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