Dicots

Dicots

Dicots (pronounced: /ˈdaɪkɒts/), short for dicotyledons (pronounced: /ˌdaɪkoʊˈtiːdən/), is a group of flowering plants that are classified based on the number of cotyledons in the seed. The term "dicot" is derived from the Greek words "di," meaning two, and "kotyledon," meaning seed leaf.

Dicots are one of the two major types of flowering plants, the other being monocots. They are characterized by having two cotyledons in their seeds, net-veined leaves, vascular bundles in a ring, flower parts in multiples of four or five, and secondary growth.

Classification

Dicots are traditionally divided into six subclasses: Magnoliidae, Hamamelidae, Caryophyllidae, Dilleniidae, Rosidae, and Asteridae. However, modern phylogenetic studies have led to a reclassification of dicots into a larger group called Eudicots, which includes most of the traditional dicots and a few other groups.

Etymology

The term "dicotyledon" is derived from the Greek words "di," meaning two, and "kotyledon," meaning seed leaf. This refers to the characteristic of dicots having two seed leaves or cotyledons.

Related Terms

• Monocots: The other major group of flowering plants, characterized by having one cotyledon in their seeds.
• Cotyledon: The first leaf or pair of leaves that appear on a plant after it germinates.
• Eudicots: A larger group that includes most of the traditional dicots and a few other groups.
• Magnoliidae: One of the six traditional subclasses of dicots.
• Hamamelidae: One of the six traditional subclasses of dicots.
• Caryophyllidae: One of the six traditional subclasses of dicots.
• Dilleniidae: One of the six traditional subclasses of dicots.
• Rosidae: One of the six traditional subclasses of dicots.
• Asteridae: One of the six traditional subclasses of dicots.

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