dikotüüded

Dikotüüded, also known as dicotyledons or more recently as eudicots, represent a large and diverse group of flowering plants. Historically, they were considered one of the two major classes of angiosperms, the other being monocotyledons. The defining characteristic, from which the name "dicotyledon" derives, is the presence of two embryonic leaves, or cotyledons, in the seed. These cotyledons often serve as a food source for the developing seedling.

Beyond the number of cotyledons, dikotüüded typically exhibit other distinct morphological features. Their leaves usually have a net-like or reticulate venation pattern, where the veins branch and form a network. The flower parts, such as petals, sepals, and stamens, are commonly arranged in multiples of four or five. Vascular bundles in the stem are arranged in a ring, and secondary growth, leading to the formation of wood and bark in many species, is prevalent.

While the term "dikotüüded" is still widely recognized and used, modern botanical classification has refined the understanding of this group. The majority of what were traditionally considered dicots are now placed within the clade Eudicotidae, characterized by a specific pollen structure. A few lineages that were previously grouped with dicots are now understood to be more basal or diverged within the angiosperms. Despite these taxonomic shifts, the observable traits associated with dicots remain important for identifying and understanding a vast array of plant life. Examples of dikotüüded include oak trees, roses, sunflowers, beans, and tomatoes.