Seed Parts & Functions

Seeds

There are 2 types of seeds 1. Monocot 2. Dicot

“Mono” is Latin for one “Di” is Latin for two

Monocots

These are seeds/plants that have one cotyledon (seed leaf) pre-formed inside the seed. Monocots tend to be herbaceous-stemmed

plants but can occasionally be woody. Herbaceous means green and fleshy

Examples-grasses, lilies, onions Example

of a monocot

seed :

Monocot Facts

Dicots

Dicots are seeds/plants that have two cotyledons (seed leaves) pre-formed inside the seed. Can be woody or herbaceous stemmed plants.

Examples-magnolias, cotton,

beans, many fruits, oak. Example of a dicot leaf

Dicot Facts

Parts of the Seed

Seeds have three (3) parts 1. The seed coat 2. The embryo 3. The endosperm

The Seed Coat

The seed coat protects the inside of the seed.

The coat can be thin and soft or thick and hard Thick seed coats will not allow water and

moisture into the seed.

The Embryo

This is the young plant itself When the seed is fertilized and matured, the

embryo will be dormant (resting/sleeping). When there are favorable weather conditions,

the seed will germinate. The embryo will break the seed coat, sprout, and

begin to grow.

The Endosperm

This is the food reserve.

The endosperm will supply the embryo (new plant) with food for the first few days of its life.

Connection Question

What type of leaf is the slide background?