Monocot plants are single seed plants. This group of plants only has one institutional leaf. Examples of monocot plants are; orchid, banana, ginger, coconut, corn, and so on.
Monocot plants or monocotyledonae are angiosperm plants that have seeds with one institutional leaf. Therefore, monocot plants are often referred to as single seed plants.
This group of plants is widely used by humans as a food source, energy source, industrial raw material, and other purposes. This plant has special characteristics with several family classifications in it. Want to know about monocot plants? Let's see the following explanation.
Characteristics of Monocot Plants
Monocot plants have different characteristics from dicotyledonous plants, here are the characteristics of monocot plants that need to be understood.
- Seeds have institutions amounting to one leaf institution.
- When the seeds germinate this plant can not divide.
- Monocot plants have fibrous roots and no cambium. At the tip of the root is protected by root institutions or koleorhiza.
- Monocot stems are unbranched, notched with clear internodes, and have no cambium.
- Monocot plants have a single leaf midrib. The leaves are bony parallel or curved.
- Triple interest.
Monocot Plant Body Structure
As with other kingdom plantae groups, monocot plants are also composed of basic organs such as roots, stems, and leaves. Here's the full explanation.
1. Root
The root is the part of the seed plant that is in the soil. It is usually white in color and generally tapered to make it easier to penetrate the ground. Roots are useful for enriching plants, absorbing water and nutrients, and storing food.
Institutional roots or prospective roots have existed since the plant was still in the form of an institution in the seed. When the seeds start to germinate, the root system will differ depending on the type of plant.
In monocot plants, the roots are fibrous. These monocot roots will later develop and increase in number with relatively the same size. The roots usually come out of the base of the stem.
2. Trunk
Monocot stems are made up of layers of epidermis, cortex, and stele. Here's the explanation.
a. Epidermis
In monocot plants, the epidermis has a thick cell wall. This section is also equipped with stomata and hairs.
b. Cortex
The cortex in monocot stems is a tissue beneath the epidermis. The cortex usually consists of sclerenchyma cells which are the bark of the stem. This bark is useful for strengthening and hardening the outside of the stem.
c. Stele
The stele is the part of the network below the cortex. In general, the boundaries of the stele and cortex are not clear. The stele contains vascular bundles scattered in the pith and concentrated near the bark.
The type of vascular bundle in monocot plants is closed collateral. That is, between the phloem and xylem there is no cambium. Therefore, monocot plants do not experience secondary growth.
This one seed plant only experiences primary growth. Enlargement of the stem is carried out by means of a cavity formation mechanism. The section is formed by removing the pith, except for the knuckle. This can be seen in the cavities in the stems of rice plants.
3. Leaves
The hallmark of monocotyledonous plant leaves is that there is no palisade parenchyma tissue and only spongy tissue. The process of photosynthesis occurs in the cells that make up the spongy tissue which is spherical in shape. This tissue also contains intercellular spaces.
Classification of Monocot Plants
Monocot plant groups are divided into five tribes or families. Here's the explanation.
1. Poaceae (Gramineae)
The first family is Poaceae. This group is usually used as a food crop. Examples of monocot plants from the Poaceae family are; wheat, sugar cane, corn, and so on. The characteristics of the plants of this tribe are as follows:
- The shape of the rod is like a tube.
- Each segment of the stem has a leaf.
- The leaves are ribbon-shaped and have a sheath that wraps around the stem.
- The flowers are like grains and do not have a crown.
- Sexual reproduction is assisted by the help of the wind.
2. Zingiberaceae
The next monocot plant group is the Zingiberaceae. This family is found in tropical and subtropical areas. Usually used as a spice or medicinal plant.
This group of plants is easily recognizable from its characteristics, namely having broad leaves with a midrib that wraps around the stem and one house. Examples of plants from this tribe include; ginger, turmeric, kencur, lempuyang, galangal, and pacing.
3. Musaceae
Musaceae is a monocot plant that has rhizome and fibrous. The stems of this plant grow in groups in one clump. Meanwhile, the leaves are broad with oval strands and are usually covered with wax. Examples of plants from the Musaceae tribe are ornamental bananas, manila bananas, bagu bananas, tunjuk Langit bananas, and Hawaiian bananas.
4. Arecaceae (Palmae)
Another group of seed plants, namely Arecaceae. This family is usually a hard tree that has panicle-shaped flowers and does not have a crown. The leaves of this plant stick to the stem and hold tightly. This plant is usually used as vegetable protein and vegetable fat. Example; coconut, sago, oil palm, siwalan, salak, rattan, sugar palm, and dates.
5. Orchidaceae
The last family of monocot plants is the Orchidaceae. This plant has beautiful flowers with various colors and shapes. and varies in both shape and color. Orchidaceae family generally has three petals and petals similar to the petals. Examples of monocot plants from this tribe are; vanda orchid, moon orchid, vanilla, and dove orchid.
