Kaksikotiset

Kaksikotiset is a Finnish term used to describe dicotyledonous plants, a traditional group within flowering plants (angiosperms) that are characterized by having two cotyledons, or seed leaves, in the embryo. The term appears in botanical education and taxonomic discussions as a way to distinguish these plants from monocotyledons, which have a single cotyledon.

The distinguishing features of kaksikotiset include an embryo with two seed leaves, leaves with typically reticulate (net-like) venation, and vascular tissue in the stem arranged in a ring. In many kaksikotiset, plant organs such as roots, stems, and leaves show a segmented development pattern, and flowers are often organized in parts that come in multiples of four or five. While these traits are common, there is variation among species, especially as modern classifications incorporate genetic data.

Historically, kaksikotiset formed a major division of angiosperms alongside monocotyledons. However, with advances in molecular phylogenetics, the group is understood to be paraphyletic rather than a single natural clade. In contemporary usage, the term kaksikotiset is frequently associated with dicotyledons, or is narrowed to the clade of true eudicots, with some lineages reclassified outside the traditional concept. Despite this, the term remains common in Finnish educational materials and older literature.

Common examples of kaksikotiset include peas, beans, sunflowers, oaks, and maples. The term is contrasted with yksikotiset (monocotyledons) in Finnish botany. For detailed current classifications, references to modern phylogenetic systems and Finnish botany texts are recommended.