Question

Which of the following features is common in dicots and monocots?
A. Root system
B. Type of flower
C. Venation in leaves
D. Photosynthetic pigment in leaves

Answer 1

The flowering plants or angiosperms are of two types based on the number of embryonic seed leaves or cotyledons. The cotyledons may be one or two and plants possessing them are called monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous respectively. These two types of plants differ in various morphological features.

Complete answer:
The monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants differ in certain morphological aspects. These differences can be delineated as follows:
Root system: The monocots generally have a fibrous root system. In this type of root system, the roots form a dense network of roots. The fibrous roots generally are not deep penetrating roots. The roots generally grow horizontally in all directions. These roots grow at the level of the soil and help to prevent soil erosion. The dicotyledonous plants, on the other hand, have a tap root system. In this root system, there is a main root that penetrates deep into the soil. Smaller roots develop laterally from the main root. Tap roots penetrate the soil deeper than the fibrous roots.
Flowers: The differences in monocot and dicot flowers are very basic. The monocot flowers lack a differentiated calyx and corolla, while it’s the opposite in dicots – the calyx and corolla are clearly differentiated. Monocot flowers are wind pollinated while dicot flowers are generally insect pollinated.
Leaf venation: Leaf venation is the arrangement of veins on the leaves. Monocots demonstrate a parallel venation system, while the dicots have a reticulate venation. In parallel venation, the veins run parallel to each other. On the other hand, in reticulate venation, the veins form a complex network.
However, the photosynthetic pigment in both monocots and dicots is chlorophyll. It is present in chloroplasts in the cytoplasm of the cells. Chlorophyll is indispensable to photosynthesis, because the pigment is responsible for absorbing light energy from the sun. This energy is eventually utilized in producing carbohydrates. Oxygen is released as a byproduct of the process.
Therefore, option (d) is correct.

Note: Angiosperms are of two types based on the number of seed leaves present in the seed. The number of seed leaves can be one in monocots or two in dicots. The two types of plants differ in basic structures – like root system (fibrous in monocots and tap root in dicots), structure of flowers, presence of cambium, stems (fleshy in monocots and hard in dicots), and germination (hypogeal in monocots and hypogeal/epigeal in dicots). Typical examples of monocot plants are banana, ginger and tulips, while that of dicots are peas, beans and cacti.