Difference Between Monocot and Dicot Leaf

An Introduction to Moncot and Dicot Leaf

A leaf is the lateral attachment of the plant stem that has played the most important function in photosynthesis. A leaf of a plant mainly controls feeding. Plants are classified under various parameters in botany.

The cotyledon, being the first major part of the embryo coming out just before germination from the seed, is produced during embryogenesis and simultaneously is made with its roots and shoots. If the seed’s germination begins, the cotyledons immediately become the seedling’s embryonic first leaves.

What are Cotyledons?

Depending on the number of cotyledons that they possess, flowering plants can be broadly classified into Monocotyledonous or Monocots (species of plants that bear a single cotyledon or embryonic leaves), and Dicotyledonous or Dicots (species of plants that bear two cotyledons). Apart from differences in the numbers of cotyledons, monocot and dicot leaf variation also varies in other structures, such as stems, roots, and flower parts.

What is Monocot and Dicot Leaf?

Monocoat Leaf

Seeds with one cotyledon or embryonic leaf are classified flowering plants under monocotyledons or monocots. In total, there exist about 60000 species of monocots. Monocot leaves have parallel veins and tend to be long and narrow. Compared to all other types of veins, the size of veins in parallel venation is small and the veins that connect them are also very small. Components of flowers found on monocots are always set in threes. They are characterized by fibrous roots. Some of the monocots include bananas, palm trees, grasses, water plantains, lilies, and orchids.

Dicot Leaf

These are also called dicotyledons or dicots. In dicot plants, seeds have two cotyledons or embryonic leaves. There are 175000 dicot species. The veins in the leaves of a dicot plant occur in a reticulated or net-like pattern. The veins will make an intricate network with fine ramifications throughout the blade, with small veins reticulating between the main veins. Dicots have floral parts that are either tetramerous or pentamerous, or multiples of four or five. Dicots have tap roots developing from a deep and long primary root; they then taper to give smaller, secondary branches. Some examples of Dicots include Oaks, Elms, Maples, Mango, Papaya, Radish, Rose, Castor, and Guava.

Explanation

In characteristics of monocot and dicot leaf, The guard cells in monocot leaves are dumble formed and possess parallel venation. In monocotous leaf the mesophyll is not differentiated the leaves are slender, lengthier elongated in shape with an isobilateral orientation. Monocotyledonous leaves have sclerenchymatous sheath expansion. The main leaf base occupies more than half of the perimeter of the plant stem, meaning that most monocot plants have a single leaf at every node. Most dicot leaves contain heterophylla, whereas hypophyll is the major structure in monocot leaves. At the surface of the leaf on monocot plants, the vanes come out from the base and up toward the apex. While the majority of dicot plants have two or more leaves from one node, with species-specific considerations, the dicot leaves actually grow attached to the stem by a petiole, whereas the monocot leaves are affixed directly to the stem.

The Difference Between Monocot and Dicot Leaf

Conclusion

Parallel venation exists in monocot leaves. Isobilateral, usually elongated, long and thin or strap-like, these are the orientation and shapes that are exhibited by the leaves. Dicot leaves are generally dorsoventral in orientation with venation type being reticulate.