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monocotyledon

monocotyledon

9.9
A flowering plant that has one seed leaf, like a grass or a lily
  • noun
  • /ˌmɒnəˈkɒtɪˌliːdən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : monocotiledónea
  • Seagrasses have evolved within the monocotyledon angiosperm group known as the Alismatidae (Les et al. 1997, Waycott et al. 2006).

Examples

  • Hydrophily in most monocotyledons (excluding Hydrocharitaceae) and perhaps in the dicot Callitriche has conceivably evolved in such a fashion.

    Academic text (1996)
  • In this respect, seagrasses are similar to many other rhizomatous terrestrial and aquatic monocotyledons.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Seagrasses represent several specialized groups of monocotyledons, which have adapted successfully to colonize the shallow coastal seas and estuaries of the world.

    Academic text (2012)
  • A coconut palm is a large, woody monocotyledon that produces edible coconuts.

  • Grasses are a common example of monocotyledons, found in many ecosystems around the world.

  • Lily flowers are vibrant and showcase the beauty of monocotyledons in gardens.

Synonyms

monocot
vsmonocotyledon
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A flowering plant with one seed leaf, like grasses or lilies

is the full scientific name for the same group
liliopsid
vsmonocotyledon
  • Specialized
9.9

A flowering plant with one seed leaf, like grasses and rice

focuses on seed single leaf rather than stem growth as main trait

Antonyms

dicotyledon
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A flowering plant with two seed leaves inside its seed

Surface Forms

monocotyledon singular

Morphology

monocotyledon = cotyledon (semi-transparent) = mono + cotyledon

The meaning is built from 'mono' meaning one and 'cotyledon' meaning seed leaf, but the overall term is technical and may not be inferable for many learners without knowing the botanical base.

Etymology

Monocotyledon comes from the parts mono- meaning 'one' (as in monarch or monologue) and cotyledon meaning 'seed leaf', so a helpful way to remember it is 'one seed leaf'.