Characters defining the CLASS LILIOPSIDAE--monocots:

• 1 COTYLEDON

• Lack of true secondary growth--no vascular cambium.

  • Scattered vascular bundles in the stem.
  • Most do not increase in diameter with age.

• No taproots--fibrous root system.

• Parallel instead of reticulate leaf venation.

  • Most leaves with sheathing petioles.

• 3-merous flowers instead of 4 or 5 merous flowers.

• Lack of cambial activity and parallel venation suggest origin from an aquatic ancestor

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