monocotyledon

views updated Jun 27 2018

mon·o·cot·y·le·don / ˌmänəˌkätlˈēdn/ • n. Bot. a flowering plant (class Monocotyledoneae or Liliopsida) with an embryo that bears a single cotyledon (seed leaf). Monocotyledons constitute the smaller of the two great divisions of flowering plants, and typically have elongated stalkless leaves with parallel veins (e.g., grasses, lilies, palms). Compare with dicotyledon.DERIVATIVES: mon·o·cot·y·le·don·ous / -ˈēdn-əs/ adj.

monocotyledon

views updated May 18 2018

monocotyledon An angiosperm (flowering plant) in which the embryo characteristically has one cotyledon which is usually amplexicaul and, like the later leaves, has parallel nervation. Compare DICOTYLEDON.

monocotyledon

views updated May 29 2018

monocotyledon Subclass of flowering plants (angiosperms) characterized by one seed leaf (cotyledon) in the seed embryo; the leaves are usually parallel-veined. Examples include lilies, onions, orchids, palms, and grasses. The larger subclass of plants is dicotyledon.

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