Definition of Cotyledons



A cotyledon is known as a significant constituent of an embryo which is present in the seed of a plant. It is present in only those plants which bear seeds. The flowering plants are also known as angiosperms are classified by the botanists on the basis of the number of cotyledons they have. Those species of plants which have a single cotyledon are termed as monocotyledonous (monocot) plants.

 


On the other hand, those which bear two embryonic leaves are called dicotyledonous (dicot) plants. The total number of cotyledons in the case of gymnosperms ranges from eight to twenty. The cotyledons of the dicots have an ability to carry out photosynthesis yet they are quite distinct from the true leaves.

 

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