dicotyledona

Dicotyledon, often shortened to dicot, refers to a group of flowering plants (angiosperms) that are distinguished by having two embryonic leaves, or cotyledons, in their seeds. This characteristic is one of the primary features that differentiate them from monocotyledons, which have only one cotyledon. Dicotyledonous plants encompass a vast majority of the world's flowering plants, including many familiar trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.

The two cotyledons in a dicot seed serve as a food source for the developing embryo, either by absorbing stored food from the endosperm or by becoming the primary photosynthetic organs themselves. Beyond the seed structure, dicots typically exhibit a vascular system with vascular bundles arranged in a ring within the stem. Their leaves usually have a net-like or reticulate venation pattern, meaning the veins branch out in a complex network. Flower parts in dicots are commonly found in multiples of four or five. Examples of common dicotyledonous plants include roses, oaks, sunflowers, and beans. The classification of dicotyledons has evolved with advances in molecular phylogeny, and while the term is still widely used, modern botanical classification often places them within broader clades like Eudicots and Magnoliids.