The probable reason for so much confusion about coconuts, aside from
ignorance (meant in the sense of "uninformed") about plant structure in
general, is that coconuts are monocots (mono- = one, -cot = cotyledon) and
most discussions of cotyledons are broached from the dicot (di- = two)
perspective. This probably relates to the fact that many (Most?) dicots have
emergent cotyledons while few (if any; Ross? David H.?) monocots use their
single seed leaf (the other name for a cotyledon) for anything other than as
an absorptive interface between the endosperm and the growing part of the
embryo. Emergent, photosynthetic cotyledons are much easier to point to in
lab.
Even in dicots with hypogean (underground) cotyledons which remain inside the
seed coat, such as the garden pea (_Pisum_ _sativum_), the cotyledons are
easy to demonstrate. Try this with the monocot corn (_Zea_ _mays_).
Dave Williams
(an old, botanical fire horse who salivates every time he hears words like
"petiole" and "hypanthium")
Science Department
Valencia Community College, East Campus
701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail
Orlando, FL 32825
profdhw at aol.com
407-299-5000 x2443
