What are cotyledons of seeds??
What are cotyledons of seeds??
Cotyledons are the first leaves produced by plants. Cotyledons are not considered "true leaves" and are sometimes referred to as "seed leaves" because they are actually part of the seed or embryo of the plant. The seed leaves serve to access the stored nutrients in the seed, feeding it until the true leaves develop and begin photosynthesizing.
In the photo at right, the two narrow leaves lowest on the stem are the cotyledons. The small, crinkled leaves on top are the first true leaves of this tomato seedling. The cotyledons will fall off as more true leaves develop. Most cotyledons look similarly nondescript, while the true leaves resemble the leaves of the mature plant.
What are Monocots and Dicots? Flowering plants were divided into 2 classes: Monocotyledones (monocots) and Dicotyledones (dicots). As the names imply, the main distinction is the number of cotyledons present in the seed embryo - 1 or 2.
There are several other differences, such as the ones listed in the table below.
Monocot
Dicot
Petals in multiples of 3
Petals in multiples of 4 or 5
Stamens in multiples of 3
Stamens in multiples of 4 or 5
Parallel leaf veins
Branching leaf veins
Fibrous roots
Taproot
Herbaceous
Herbaceous or woody
Cotyledons are the first leaves produced by plants. Cotyledons are not considered "true leaves" and are sometimes referred to as "seed leaves" because they are actually part of the seed or embryo of the plant. The seed leaves serve to access the stored nutrients in the seed, feeding it until the true leaves develop and begin photosynthesizing.
In the photo at right, the two narrow leaves lowest on the stem are the cotyledons. The small, crinkled leaves on top are the first true leaves of this tomato seedling. The cotyledons will fall off as more true leaves develop. Most cotyledons look similarly nondescript, while the true leaves resemble the leaves of the mature plant.
What are Monocots and Dicots?Flowering plants were divided into 2 classes: Monocotyledones (monocots) and Dicotyledones (dicots). As the names imply, the main distinction is the number of cotyledons present in the seed embryo - 1 or 2.
There are several other differences, such as the ones listed in the table below.
| Monocot | Dicot |
| Petals in multiples of 3 | Petals in multiples of 4 or 5 |
| Stamens in multiples of 3 | Stamens in multiples of 4 or 5 |
| Parallel leaf veins | Branching leaf veins |
| Fibrous roots | Taproot |
| Herbaceous | Herbaceous or woody |
