What distinguishes dicot plants from monocots?

Dicot plants are distinguished from monocots primarily by the number of seed leaves, or cotyledons, present in the seeds. Dicot seeds typically contain two cotyledons, while monocot seeds contain only one. This fundamental characteristic plays a crucial role in the early stages of a plant's development and influences various aspects of the plant's growth and structure.

The differences between monocots and dicots extend beyond just the number of cotyledons. For example, monocots usually have parallel leaf venation, while dicots exhibit a branching vein pattern. However, the defining factor that initially sets these two groups apart at the seed stage is indeed the number of seed leaves.

Factors such as height, flower color, and soil preference can vary greatly within both monocots and dicots and are not inherent distinctions between the two groups. Therefore, these attributes do not serve as reliable criteria for classification but can be influenced by environmental conditions and genetic diversity.