FFA Horticulture CDE General Practice Exam

Which plant is an example of a dicot?

1. Wheat

2. Rice

3. Bean

4. Corn

The correct answer is: Bean

A dicot, or dicotyledon, is characterized by having two embryonic leaves, or cotyledons, within the seed. This group of flowering plants typically has broad leaves with a network of veins and floral parts usually in multiples of four or five. Beans exemplify this group well as they display these characteristics. The seed structure includes two halves, indicating that it is a dicot, and upon germination, the bean plant develops two leaf-like cotyledons that help it establish itself. Additionally, beans have a complex vein pattern in their leaves, further categorizing them as dicots. In contrast, wheat, rice, and corn are all classified as monocots, which are characterized by having a single cotyledon, parallel leaf venation, and floral parts usually in multiples of three. This fundamental distinction in the structure and growth patterns of dicots versus monocots is crucial for identifying different plant species in horticulture and agriculture.