118 MONOCOTYLEDENOUS ANGIOSPERMS 



cotyledon, a fact which gives the name monocotyledenous 

 to the whole group. 



Sporophyte. The sporophyte is differentiated into roots, 

 stems, leaves and flowers. 



Roots. The roots are all simple and originate from the 

 stem; increase in length is brought about by apical growth. 

 Root-hairs are numerous and persistent. 



Ste7ns. Growth of the stem in diameter is interstitial, 

 the vascular bundles being of a closed type and scattered 

 throughout the other tissues. 



Leaves. The leaves, which are large and showy in many 

 members of the group, have well developed conducting tissue 

 or veins which form a closed system, because the branches of 

 the midvein end in a simple vein which runs parallel to the 

 margin of the leaf; furthermore the veins are parallel, result- 

 ing in a parallel-veined leaf, and the margin of the leaves is 

 mostly entire. 



Flowers. The flowers of the monocotyledons are usually 

 trimerons, each having three sepals, frequently resembling 

 petals, three petals, six stamens, and a three-carpeled and 

 three-celled pistil. The sepals, petals, stamens and pistils 

 have a cyclic arrangement. 



