SEED

Monocots have only one seed leaf inside the seed coat. It is often only a thin leaf,
because the endosperm to feed the new plant is not inside the seed leaf.

Dicots have two seed leaves inside the seed coat. They are usually rounded and fat,
because they contain the endosperm to feed the embryo plant.

Differences between Monocots and Dicots

Monocots and dicots differ morphologically. Monocot pollen possesses a single furrow
in its outer layer, parts such as stamens and petals are in multiples of three, leaf veins
are parallel, the vascular strands are scattered in the stem, roots are adventitious (arise
from the plant stem) and there is no secondary growth such as wood or bark. Monocot
examples include onions and grasses.

A dicot’s two cotyledons serve as nutrient storage and occupy a large amount of the
seed’s volume. Dicot pollen has three furrows, flower parts are in multiples of four or
five, leaf veins are branched, vascular bundles are situated in a cylinder in their stems,
roots form from a radicle and taproot system, and they usually exhibit secondary
growth. Dicot examples include legumes and hardwood trees.