Types of Seed

Classification of seeds based on the number of cotyledons

1. Monocotyledonous seeds: Seeds having a single cotyledon. E.g. rice, orchid, maize, etc.
2. Dicotyledonous seeds: Seeds having two cotyledons. E.g. pea, beans, mango, mustard, etc.

Classification of seeds based on the presence of endosperm

1. Albuminous seed: Seeds in which endosperm is present and provides nutrition during the early development of the seed. In this type of seed, cotyledons are thin and membranous. E.g. Dicot: castor, cotton; Monocot: maize, wheat, rice
2. Exalbuminous seeds: Seeds in which endosperm is absent, and food is stored in fleshy and thick cotyledons. At an early stage, food stores in endospermic tissue are utilized by the embryo resulting in a non-endospermic condition in mature seeds. E.g. Dicot: pea, bean, gram, etc.; Monocot: orchid