Question

Corn develops from a seedling with a single cotyledon, displays parallel veins on its leaves, and produces monosulcate pollen. It is most likely:

a. a gymnosperm

b. a monocot

c. a eudicot

d. a basal angiosperm

Short answer

The correct answer is (b). a monocot

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

There are two broad types of angiosperm plants based on the type of embryo that develops in the seeds. The two types are monocots and dicots. Monocots are plants with one cotyledons and the dicots are plants with two cotyledons.

Step 2. Reason for incorrect option

• Gymnosperms are plants that reproduces with the help of exposed seeds which are not covered or enclosed within a fruit.
• Eudicots produces tricolpate pollen grains, which distinguishes eudicots from the rest of the angiosperms. It does not include corn.
• Amborellales, Nymphaeales, and Austrobaileyales make up a basal angiosperm. They do not belong to either the monocot or dicot families.

Step 3. Reason for correct option

• Plants with the presence of a single cotyledon in the seedling are monocot plants.
• Veins that run parallel to the length of the leaves and flower segments that are organised in a three-or six-fold symmetry are anatomical features found among the monocots.
• The initial angiosperm sperm was monosulcate, with a single furrow or pore running through the outer layer. This characteristic can still be seen in modern monocots.