Answer: Number of cotyledons in seeds.
- A Presence of vascular tissue
- B Number of cotyledons in seeds
- C Presence of flowers
- D Production of seeds
Correct answer: B. Number of cotyledons in seeds
Explanation: The fundamental distinction is number of cotyledons: monocots have 1, dicots have 2. This correlates with other features: leaf venation, floral parts, root system, and stem anatomy.
Plants evolved from water-dependent algae through increasingly land-adapted groups, gaining vascular tissue (Pteridophyta), then seeds (Gymnosperms), and finally fruit-enclosed seeds (Angiosperms) - each step reducing dependence on water for reproduction.
Concept context
Classification of plants from algae to angiosperms. Understanding plant diversity is essential for NEET.