Polycotyledonous Plants

Polycotyledonous Plants are those whose embryos have more than two seed-leaves (cotyledons). Examples are found occasionally, or as monstruosities, among Dicotyledons. In the Pine (Pinus) group of the Coniferae (q.v.), however, the polycotyledonous condition is the normal one, and the cotyledons occur in whorls of from three to ten. Multiplication of cotyledons occurs in a few other groups of the Coniferae. Sometimes the numerous cotyledons unite in pairs, and this leads to the suggestion that they originally sprang from two; but many botanists believe that the cotyledons arise as separate leaves.