Monocots

Introduction

The monocots are one of two major types of flowering plants known as angiosperms, the other being the eudicotyledons (eudicots). There are over 60,000 monocot species, including the most commercially significant plant family, Poaceae (real grasses), and the biggest plant family, Orchidaceae (orchids). Further monocot families include the Liliaceae (lilies), Arecaceae (palms), and Iridaceae (irises) (irises). The existence of only one seed leaf, or cotyledon, in the embryo contained in the seed distinguishes the majority of them.

What is Monocot?

A monocot is a group of flowering plants that belong to the Liliopsida (or Monocotyledonae) family of Angiospermae (angiosperms), and are distinguished by having just one cotyledon in the seed and growing endogenously.

According to the number of cotyledons in their seeds, angiosperms (flowering plants) are either monocotyledons (or monocots) or dicotyledons (or dicots).

Palms, grasses, orchids, and lilies are examples of monocotyledonous plants.

Other distinguishing traits, aside from the number of cotyledons, are as follows:

• The number of floral components – trimerous monocot flowers (in multiples of three)

• The number of pollen pores — monocots have one

• Vascular bundle arrangement in the stem – The vascular bundles of monocots are dispersed.

• The roots – adventitious roots are monocot roots

• The arrangement of main leaf veins – the leaves of monocots exhibit parallel venation.

The Key Parts of Monocot

1. Monocot Stem

Monocots, also known as monocotyledonous flowering plants, are those with just one cotyledon in the seed, such as wheat, ginger, onions, and grass. These stems are circular in form, feature an epidermal layer, and lateral branches. They have an epidermis layer on the outside, followed by a sclerenchymatous hypodermis.

Following the hypodermis, there is parenchymatous ground tissue with a considerable number of distributed vascular bundles surrounded by sclerenchymatous bundle sheath. The schematic of the Transverse Section of a Monocot stem below will help you grasp its primary components.

2. Monocot Root 

In many ways, the anatomy of the monocot root is similar to that of the dicot root. Cortex, epidermis, endodermis, pericycle, pith, and vascular bundles are also present. The distinction is due to the amount of Xylem bundles. Unlike dicot roots, which have fewer xylem bundles, monocot roots often have more than six (polyarch) xylem bundles. The pith is thick and highly formed, and monocotyledonous roots do not generate secondary roots.

3. Monocot Leaf

The term “monocot” or “monocotyledonous leaf” refers to blooming plants having seeds that have just one embryonic leaf or cotyledon. There are 60,000 species of monocots known worldwide. The leaves of monocots are long and thin, with parallel veins. When compared to other types of veins, the size of veins in parallel venation is small, with even smaller veins joining them. The floral components of monocots are divided into three groups. The roots of monocots are fibrous. Palm trees, bananas, water plantains, grasses, orchids, and lilies are just a few examples.

Let’s know How to Differentiate between Monocot and Dicot so that we can Identify both of them.

Difference between Monocot and Dicot Leaf

Difference between Monocot and Dicot Stem

Difference between Monocot and Dicot Root

Conclusion 

The existence of only one seed leaf, or cotyledon, in the embryo contained in the seed distinguishes the majority of them. A monocot is a group of flowering plants that belong to the Liliopsida family of Angiospermae , and are distinguished by having just one cotyledon in the seed and growing endogenously. Other distinguishing traits, aside from the number of cotyledons, are as follows: The number of floral components – trimerous monocot flowers, The number of pollen pores monocots have one Vascular bundle arrangement in the stem, The vascular bundles of monocots are dispersed.