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kalaun
kalaun
Student
High School - 9th Grade

What are the differences between monocots and dicots?

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Posted by kalaun on Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 2:56 PM and tagged with botany biology, dicots, difference, monocots, science.


Answers:

  1. melony82
    melony82 Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    There are several differences between monocots and dicots, here are three big ones.  The main one (that gave rise to the names) is that monocots have seeds that are one piece (like corn), while dicot seeds can be easily split in half (like peas). Other differences include that monocots have flower parts (like petals) in multiple of threes while dicots usually have them in multiples of 4 or 5.  In terms of the leaves, monocots exhibit parallel veins while dicots have reticulated (net-like) veins.   

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    Posted by melony82 on Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 3:04 PM

  2. whoa-nelly
    whoa-nelly Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    Use the prefix mono (one) and di (two) to help you remember the differences between these two flowering plant types.

    Flowering Plants are separated into two distinct groups, although there is some gray areas with certain plants.

    Monocots produce one leaf from the seed after germinating; dicots produce 2

    Monocots produce parallel leaf veins; dicots produce a net-like display of veins.

    The differences continue and become more scientific.  Try the link below from Wikipedia to begin with if you need more information.

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    Posted by whoa-nelly on Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 3:09 PM