All vascular plants are further classified into Monocots and Dicots. This classification is mainly based on the number of cotyledons. In botany, cotyledons are defined as an important part of the embryo – part of a seed. The word cotyledon is derived from a Greek word which means an embryonic leaf. Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons are two different types of the cotyledon.
- Monocotyledons or Monocot commonly refers to the flowering plants or angiosperms in which the seeds typically contain only one embryonic leaf or Cotyledon. Ginger, onions, wheat, and grass are the best examples of Monocotyledons
- Dicotyledons or Dicot is generally referred to the flowering plants or angiosperms in which the seeds typically contain two embryonic leaves or cotyledon. All legumes, including beans, lentils, peas, and peanuts, are the best examples of dicotyledons. There are around 1 lakh to 1.5 lakhs of different species of dicot plants.
The root system is the underground part of the plant, which plays an important role in the transportation of water and other essential mineral nutrition from the soil to different parts of the shoot system or aerial parts of the plant.
Also, read Anatomy of Monocot and Dicot Plants
Monocot Root
These plant roots have a comparatively wider, and fibrous root-like structure.
Dicot Root
These plant roots have a comparatively narrow, and tap root-like structure.
Normally, dicots and monocots differ in four aspects which include stems, flowers, leaves, and roots. Here let us know more about the differences between a monocot and dicot roots of a plant.
The Dicot and Monocot Roots are distinguished mainly based on the structure of the root. The important difference between Dicot and Monocot roots have been discussed below:
Difference Between Dicot And Monocot Root
|
Dicot Root |
Monocot Root |
|
Pericycle |
|
| Gives rise to cork cambium, parts of the vascular cambium, and lateral roots | Gives rise to lateral roots only |
|
Vascular Tissues |
|
| Has a limited number of Xylem and Phloem | Has a higher number of Xylem and Phloem |
|
Shape of Xylem |
|
| Angular or Polygonal | Round or Oval |
|
Number of Xylem and Phloem |
|
| 2 to 8 | 8 to many |
|
Pith |
|
| Absent or very small and undeveloped | Larger and well developed |
|
Conjunctive tissue |
|
| Parenchymatous | Sclerenchymatous |
|
Secondary growth |
|
| Secondary growth occurs | Secondary growth does not occur |
|
Cambium |
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| Present and formed by the Conjunctive parenchyma | Absent |
|
Xylem |
|
| Usually tetrarch | Polyarch |
|
Cortex |
|
| Comparatively Narrow | Very wide |
|
Covering |
|
| Older roots are covered by a Cork | Older roots are covered by an Exodermis |
|
Examples |
|
| Pea, beans, peanuts, etc. | Maize, banana, palm, etc. |
Important Question for you
Q.1. Are pine trees dicots or monocots?
A.1. Pines are neither dicots nor monocots, they are conifers. Flowering plants are the only ones that are considered to be members of both the classes.
Q.2. Do we get flowers from dicots?
A.2. Yes, most of the dicots produce flowers. Both monocots and dicots are flowering plants. They are descended from flowering plants. The flowers hence produced are not big and flashy like how typically flowers are. Some of the dicot trees are maples, oaks, Sycamore, etc which do not yield true flowers. Some examples of monocots are cattails and grasses whose flowers are often disregarded as they have no petals or sepals.
Some flowering plants, flower rarely. One tiny flowering plant such as Duckweeds reproduce and scatter primarily by vegetative growth. They mature through cellular division wherein the resulting cluster breaks apart.
Q.3. What supports palm trees if monocots do not possess wood?
A.3. Palms depend on overlaying leaf bases that are thick and large cells that support the roots to stay intact. This technique is adapted by tree ferns and cycads.
Learn more about Dicot and Monocot plants, its differences and other related topics @ BYJU’S Biology
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