Comparison of a monocot (grass) sprouting (left) with a dicot (right), showing hypogeal development in which the cotyledon remains invisible within the seed, underground. The visible part is the first true leaf produced from the meristem; the cotyledon itself remains within the seed.
Slice of onion, showing parallel veins in cross section
Ceroxylon quindiuense (Quindiowax palm) is considered the tallest monocot in the world
The traditionally listed differences between monocotyledons and dicotyledons are as follows. This is a broad sketch only, not invariably applicable, as there are a number of exceptions. The differences indicated are more true for monocots versuseudicots