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How are flowering trees divided into monocotyledons and eudicotyledons?

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Tall giant sequoia trees with reddish bark and thick trunks rise closely together in a dense forest at Sequoia National Park, California. — Tree A stand of giant sequoia trees (*Sequoiadendron giganteum*) in Sequoia National Park, California.

Flowering plants, or angiosperms, are primarily divided into two groups—monocotyledons and eudicotyledons—based on key structural and developmental characteristics, most notably the number of embryonic seed leaves, or cotyledons.123

Key Distinctions

Cotyledons: Monocots possess a single seed leaf in the embryo, whereas eudicots typically have two.12
Flower Parts: Monocot flowers usually feature parts in multiples of three. Eudicot flowers generally follow a plan of four or five, or multiples thereof.12
Leaf Venation: Monocots are characterized by parallel-veined leaves, while eudicots typically exhibit net-veined leaves.12
Stem Structure: In monocots, vascular bundles are scattered throughout the stem. Eudicots usually arrange these vessels in a continuous ring near the stem surface.12
Pollen: Monocot pollen grains feature a single aperture or furrow. Eudicot pollen is typically tricolpate, meaning it has three furrows or pores.12
Root Systems: Monocots lack a vascular cambium and possess an adventitious root system. Many eudicots develop a taproot capable of secondary thickening.12