nonmonocot

The term "nonmonocot" is used in botany to refer to any flowering plant that is not a monocot. Monocots, a major group of flowering plants, are characterized by having a single cotyledon (embryonic leaf) in their seed, parallel leaf venation, and floral parts in multiples of three. Nonmonocots, therefore, encompass all other angiosperms. This broad category includes what were traditionally considered dicotyledons, which typically have two cotyledons, net-like leaf venation, and floral parts in multiples of four or five.

However, the classification of flowering plants has evolved with advances in molecular phylogenetics. Modern botanical classification recognizes two main lineages within the angiosperms: the monocots and the eudicots. The vast majority of plants previously grouped as dicots are now placed within the eudicots. Therefore, in contemporary botanical contexts, "nonmonocot" is often used as a shorthand for eudicots and other angiosperm groups that are not monocots, such as the basal angiosperms like water lilies and magnolias.

The distinction between monocots and nonmonocots has significant implications for plant identification, understanding evolutionary relationships, and agricultural practices. For instance, many staple crops like wheat, rice, and corn are monocots, while others such as soybeans, potatoes, and apples are nonmonocots (specifically eudicots). The structural and physiological differences between these groups influence their growth habits, reproductive strategies, and ecological roles. While "nonmonocot" is a useful descriptive term, the more precise term eudicot is preferred when referring to the largest group of these plants.