The development of cotyledon and shoot apex in monocotyledons

Abstract

Monocotyledonous embryos have a single cotyledon which is initiated very early. During development the differential growth in the cotyledon results in a lateral shoot apical meristem; its quiescent central zone, at first axial as in Palmae, becomes more lateral in the course of evolution owing to earlier development of the cotyledon. One can establish a phyletic sequence from a dicotyledonous embryo to an advanced monocotyledonous embryo through the Palmae.