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Step 1
Observe the sprouts and look at the cotyledons. The “cot” in monocot and dicot is short for “cotyledon.” The cotyledon is the “seed leaf” that the seed puts out when it sprouts. A monocot has a single seed leaf (“mono” means “one”) and a dicot has two seed leaves (“di” means “two”). This observation can only be made when the seed is just sprouting.
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Step 2
Observe the roots. Monocots have short fibrous roots that stay close to the surface. Dicots have a long, central tap root that goes deep into the ground. Dicots may also have other roots, too, surrounding the tap root.
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Step 3
Observe the veins in the leaves. The veins in monocots run parallel to each other, as seen in grass leaves. Monocot leaves tend to be long and narrow. The veins in dicot leaves branch out like the veins in your hands.
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Step 4
Observe the petals of the flowers. Monocot petals come in multiples of three such as three, six or nine. Dicots petals and sepals come in multiples of four or five--four, eight and 12 or five, 10 and 15.
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Step 5
Observe a cross section of the stem under a microscope. Monocots have their vascular bundles scattered randomly throughout. Dicots have their vascular bundles arranged neatly in a circle, as if they were placed on imaginary spokes coming out of the center.
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Step 6
Monocots mainly belong to the grass family of plants. Examples of monocots are grass, wheat, oats, barley, corn, rice, bamboo, onion, asparagus, lilies, bananas and palm trees.
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Step 7
Dicots are mainly broad leaf trees, ornamental flowers, and fruits and vegetables. Examples of dicots include maple and oak trees, fruit trees, grapes, strawberries, daisies, marigolds, roses and garden vegetables such as tomatoes, squash, beans, peas and potatoes.
