Dicotyledon

Dicotyledon
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida
Orders
Subclass: Asteridae Asterales Callitrichales Calycerales Campanulales Dipsacales Gentianales Lamiales Plantaginales Rubiales Scrophulariales Solanales Subclass: Caryophyllidae Caryophyllales Plumbaginales Polygonales Subclass: Dilleniidae Batales Capparales Diapensiales Dilleniales Ebenales Ericales Lecythidales Malvales Nepenthales Primulales Salicales Theales Violales Subclass: Hamamelididae Casuarinales Fagales Hamamelidales Juglandales Leitneriales Myricales Urticales Subclass: Magnoliidae Aristolochiales Illiciales Laurales Magnoliales Nymphaeales Papaverales Piperales Ranunculales Subclass: Rosidae Apiales Celastrales Cornales Euphorbiales Fabales Geraniales Haloragales Linales Myrtales Podostemales Polygalales Proteales Rafflesiales Rhamnales Rhizophorales Rosales Santalales Sapindales

Dicotyledons are a group of flowering plants that belong to the taxonomic class Magnoliopsida (formerly Dicotyledoneae). They are characterized primarily by the possession of two initial leaves, or cotyledons in the embryo, which is usually surrounded by the endosperm. For example, the bean is a dicot. When a bean seed is opened, it can be separated into two halves that develop into the cotyledons. Dicot plants also generally have broad leaves with netlike veins.

Anatomy

Anatomy of a dicotyledon seed

Dicotyledons' are a woody plant and the seed typically contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons and is usually surrounded by the endosperm. Dicotyledons normally have wide leaves with netlike veins. The roots on them are most likely tap roots.

Germination

During germination, the root of the radicle grows out to attach to the plant. Followed shortly after, a short stem above the root grows. The hypocotyl then carries the cotyledons above the ground and they become the first sprouted green leaves on the plant. Then the stem, leaves, and branches are formed, while the development of the radicle forms the root-system. The growth rate and size of the adult plant varies. It can range from staying small and lasting only one season, to a forest tree that would easily live for centuries.

Ecology

Since these are mostly flowering plants they typically grow in gardens. They typically need calm weather environmets. They do vary in where they live and their sizes (their size affects the weather they can handle) but they usually don't live very long in harsh weather. They are usually found in gardens or in sunny environments.

Gallery

• 

  Venus Flytrap
  (Dionaea muscipula)
  Order: Nepenthales

• 

  Magnolia
  (Magnolia × wieseneri)
  Order: Magnoliales

• 

  Evergreen violet
  (Viola sempervirens)
  Order: Violaceae

• 

  Persimmon
  (Diospyros kaki)
  Order: Ebenales

• 

  Pacific Madrone
  (Arbutus menzisii)
  Order: Ericales

References

• Magnoliopsida by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Dicotyledon by Wikipedia
• Dicotyledon Information QuickSeek Info
• DICOTYLEDON FAMILIESBackcountry Rangers
• Dicotyledon The Dicotyledon Stem