Monocotyledon

A monocotyledon (monocot) is a plant with only one cotyledon, or the first leaf or leaves emerging from a flowering plant embryo.

Grasses are the most notable monocotyledon group, and though looking perhaps rather primitive, are in fact highly evolved for wind pollination. The Orchids on the other hand have gone the other way and become insect pollination specialists and as a group are considered to be florally the most advanced as their flowers have been changed from the original design the most. These two families though quite different florally, sit on top of the monocotyledon families as the most highly evolved.

See also: how to distinguish a monocot from a dicot

For technical classification, see Liliopsida.