monocotyledon

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mon·o·cot·y·le·don / ˌmänəˌkätlˈēdn/ • n. Bot. a flowering plant (class Monocotyledoneae or Liliopsida) with an embryo that bears a single cotyledon (seed leaf). Monocotyledons constitute the smaller of the two great divisions of flowering plants, and typically have elongated stalkless leaves with parallel veins (e.g., grasses, lilies, palms). Compare with dicotyledon.DERIVATIVES: mon·o·cot·y·le·don·ous / -ˈēdn-əs/ adj.

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