Monocotyledons

Roughly 74,000 species, about 25% of all angiosperms, are monocots-the second-largest flowering plant group. Like all angiosperms they have flowers and their seeds are enclosed in fruits. A notable shared derived feature is that the seeds have only one seed-leaf or cotyledon. Typically flower parts are in 3's or multiples of 3, leaves are parallel-veined, and vascular bundles appear to be scattered through the stem cross-section (= atactostele). Secondary growth from a vascular cambium is absent and pollen grains have one opening. The largest group of monocots, the grass family is the most important plant group woldwide for human survival. Others include sedges, lilies, greenbriars, palms, orchids and yuccas. Locally, the grass and sedge families represent nearly 1/5 of the total local flora. To browse, scroll and select the desired family in the menu on the left.

Phylogeney of Monocots
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