DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MONOCOTS AND DICOTS - BIOLOGY - 2025

The main differences between monocots and dicots are based on seeds, endosperm, flowers, roots, stem, and morphology. Generally, monocots are herbaceous plants with single cotyledon seeds of particular vegetative and floral characters.

Monocotyledons include grasses, liliaceae, arecaceae (palms), araliaceae, sedges, amaryllidaceae, orchids (orchids) and zingiberaceae.

Corn (Zea mays) is a typical monocot. Source: pixabay.com

On the other hand, dicots are bushy or arboreal plants whose embryo develops two cotyledons at the time of germination. Dicotyledons include Fabaceae (legumes), Solanaceae, Malvaceae (cotton), Rutaceae (citrus), Caricaceae (milky) and Myrtaceae (eucalyptus).

Plants are sessile organisms that inhabit different terrestrial ecosystems and share their environment with multiple species. They have the ability to breathe and generate their own food through photosynthesis.

For their growth and development they require basic elements such as water, air, light and nutrients. In addition, they need soil as a substrate to germinate and develop roots, which serves as a support for the plant's structure.

On a global level, plants are classified into lower or primitive plants (bryophytes and pteridophytes) and higher plants (angiosperms and gymnosperms). Lower plants reproduce through spores and higher plants reproduce through seeds.

Angiosperms are plants that produce flowers and fruits, and the seeds develop within a fruit. In this context, angiosperms are classified into monocots and dicots.

Main differences between monocots and dicots

Pisum sativum L., is an annual dicotyledonous species. Source: pixabay.com

The following morphological and structural differences are distinguished between monocots and dicots:

-Seeds

Cotyledons

They are the first leaves that emerge from the embryo at the beginning of seed germination. The number of cotyledons is the primary character in the classification of phanerogamic angiosperms.

Cotyledons. Source: pixabay.com

Endosperm

It is a nutritive tissue of the seeds located in the embryo sac of these.

-Plant

Estate

They correspond to the organ of the plant that grows underground. Their function is to fix the plant to the ground and supply water and nutrients.

Stem

It is the central axis of the plant. It grows in the opposite direction to the roots and is the support for branches, leaves, flowers and fruits.

Leaves

They are a flattened vegetative organ responsible mainly for photosynthesis and respiration processes in plants.

Leaves and fruits of Coffea arabica (Dicotyledonous) Source: pixabay.com

Petioles

It is the structure that joins the leaf blade to the stem.

Ribbing

It is the arrangement of the nerves that form the vascular tissue in the leaves.

-Flowers

Floral pieces

Also called antofilos, they are modified leaves that fulfill functions related to reproduction.

Lemon flowers (Citrus × limon (L.) Osbeck.): Source: pixabay.com

Pollen

They are grains that contain the microgametophytes or male sex cells of flowering plants.

Nectaries

Specialized glands that secrete nectar or sugary solution that attracts birds, insects, or other species to facilitate pollination. Septal nectaries are located in the septa of the ovary.

-Morphology

Vascular tissue

It is a specialized tissue that allows the transfer of fluids through the organs of plants.

Microsporogenesis

It is the production of microspores at the level of the microsporangia or pollen sacs within the anther.

Secondary growth

It refers to the growth that determines the increase in thickness of the roots, stems and branches in plants.

Sympodial growth

It is the lateral growth in which the terminal shoots die.

Cambium interfascicular

It is a meristematic plant tissue developed by cellular differentiation of the radiomedullary parenchyma. It originates between the fascicles or vascular bundles of the interfascicular parenchyma.

Rice culture (monocotyledonous). Source: pixabay.com

Axillary buds

Also called axillary buds, they are embryonic vegetative (leaves or branches) or reproductive (flowers) shoots that develop in the axils of leaves or branches.

Stipulations

They are structures developed from tissues of the leaf primordium at the base of the leaves.

References

1. Teresa Audesirk, Gerald Audesirk, Byers Bruce E. (2004) Biology: Life on Earth. Sesta Edition. Pearson Education. 592 p. ISBN 970-26-0370-6
2. Campbell Neil A. & Jane B. Reece (2005) Biology. Editorial Medica Panamericana. Seventh edition. XLII, 1392 p. ISBN 978-84-7903-998-1
3. Differences between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants (2018) EducaLAB Resources. INTEF National Institute of Educational Technologies and Training for Teachers. Recovered at: recursostic.educacion.es
4. González Carlos (2015) Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons. Botany Cabinet of the CNBA. National College of Buenos Aires. Recovered at: botanica.cnba.uba.ar
5. González, F. (1999). Monocots and dicots: a classification system that ends the century. Revta Acad. colom. Ci. exact., fis. nat, 23, 195-204.
6. Dicotyledonous Angiosperms (2003) Polytechnic University of Valencia. Part IV: Topics 21 to 24. Retrieved from: euita.upv.es