Monocot seeds have one cotyledon.
A cotyledon is essentially the "seed leaf" within the embryo of a seed. It's the first leaf or leaves to appear when a seed germinates. Plants are classified into two main groups based on the number of cotyledons they possess: monocots and dicots (also called eudicots).
Here's a breakdown:
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Monocots: The name "monocot" itself is derived from the fact that these plants have one (mono-) cotyledon. Examples include grasses (like corn, wheat, and rice), lilies, orchids, and palms. The single cotyledon in monocots typically functions in absorbing nutrients from the endosperm (the seed's food storage tissue) during germination.
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Dicots: Dicots, on the other hand, have two (di-) cotyledons. Examples include beans, roses, and sunflowers. The two cotyledons in dicots often emerge above the ground and function as the first photosynthetic leaves.
Therefore, the key distinguishing feature related to this question is that monocots contain only a single cotyledon within their seeds.
