dicotyledonous

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having an embryo with two cotyledons, as in the flowering plants traditionally called dicotyledons

   The bean is dicotyledonous, so its embryo develops with two seed leaves.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to the flowering-plant group traditionally classified as the dicotyledons

   The survey compared dicotyledonous plants with grasses and other monocots.

From dicotyledon + -ous. Dicotyledon was formed in New Latin from Greek di- ("two") and kotyledon ("cup-shaped hollow; cotyledon"). The adjective refers to the two embryonic seed leaves characteristic of the traditional dicot group.

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