How do monocots differ from dicots?

Monocots and dicots are two categories of flowering plants that differ in several key characteristics:

1. Seed structure: Monocots have seeds with only one cotyledon (seed leaf), while dicots have seeds with two cotyledons.

2. Leaf venation: Monocots have parallel leaf venation, where the veins run parallel to each other, while dicots have reticulate leaf venation, where the veins form a branching network.

3. Flower parts: Monocots typically have flower parts in multiples of three (e.g. petals in multiples of three), while dicots have flower parts in multiples of four or five.

4. Root system: Monocots have fibrous root systems, with a network of thin roots spreading out from the base of the stem, while dicots have taproots, with a single, thick root that grows deep into the soil.

5. Stem structure: Monocots have scattered vascular bundles in their stems, while dicots have vascular bundles arranged in a ring.

Overall, monocots and dicots represent two distinct evolutionary lineages of flowering plants, with differences in their seed structure, leaf venation, flower parts, root system, and stem structure.