Explanation

Cotyledons are the seed leaves that provide food for baby plants when they first sprout. Monocots have one cotyledon in their seeds while dicots have two cotyledons. This difference in seed structure is the defining characteristic that separates these two plant groups.

The prefix mono means one and di means two, referring to the number of cotyledons. Corn, rice, and grass are monocots with one seed leaf. Beans, peas, and oak trees are dicots with two seed leaves that often split apart when sprouting.

Both monocots and dicots have vascular bundles for transporting water and nutrients. They have different root systems: monocots usually have fibrous roots while dicots have taproots. Both groups reproduce through seeds and flowers, so reproduction method does not distinguish them.