Monocots and dicots are two major groups of flowering plants that differ in key characteristics. Monocots typically have one cotyledon, parallel leaf veins, flowers with parts in multiples of three, and vascular bundles in the stem cross-section, while dicots usually have two cotyledons, netted leaf veins, flowers with four or five parts, and ring patterns in the stem cross-section. Both groups commonly have fibrous root systems.

1. Monocots vs. DicotsMonocots 1 cotyledon, or seed pieceParallel veinsLeaves which tend to be long and narrowFlower parts in multiples of of 3Stem cross-sections with vascular bundlesFibrous root systemsDicots2 cotyledons, or seed piecesNetted veinsLeaves which tend to be wideFlower parts in multiples of 4 or 5Stem cross-sections arranged in ring patternsFibrous or taproots