Monocot Embryo — Scutellum, Coleoptile and Coleorrhiza
📚 Practice ConceptEmbryos of monocotyledons possess only one cotyledon. In the grass family the cotyledon is called scutellum that is situated towards one side (laterally) of the embryonal axis. At its lower end, the embryonal axis has the
The coleoptile is an undifferentiated sheath that covers the radicle, while the scutellum is situated terminally on the embryonal axis.
Coleoptile = hollow foliar structure covering the SHOOT. Coleorrhiza = undifferentiated sheath covering the ROOT. Scutellum is LATERAL, not terminal.
ColeoRRHIZA = Rhiza = ROOT. ColeoOPTILE = Optile = OPTICAL = looks like a leaf (hollow foliar). Scutellum = LATERAL like a shield.
- Scutellum = single cotyledon of monocot embryo in grass family, positioned laterally on embryonal axis.
- Coleoptile = hollow foliar sheath covering shoot apex and leaf primordia (not the root).
- Coleorrhiza = undifferentiated sheath covering radicle and root cap (not the shoot).
- Grass embryo differs from dicot embryo: monocot has 1 cotyledon, 2 sheaths (coleoptile + coleorrhiza); dicot has 2 cotyledons, no sheaths.
Which of the following statements about monocot embryo structure are INCORRECT? S1: The scutellum is the single cotyledon of monocot embryos and is situated terminally on the embryonal axis. S2: The coleoptile is a hollow, foliar structure that covers and protects the shoot apex and leaf primordia. S3: The coleorrhiza is an undifferentiated sheath that encloses the radicle and root cap. S4: The epicotyl is the portion of the embryonal axis above the level of cotyledon attachment that includes the plumule. S5: In the grass family, the scutellum is laterally placed with respect to the embryonal axis.
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Correct answer: A — S1 only
S1 INCORRECT: Scutellum is positioned LATERALLY on the embryonal axis — not terminally (NCERT exact: 'situated towards one side (laterally) of the embryonal axis'). S2 CORRECT: Coleoptile = hollow, foliar, covers shoot apex and leaf primordia. S3 CORRECT: Coleorrhiza = undifferentiated sheath covering radicle and root cap. S4 CORRECT: Epicotyl = portion above cotyledon attachment = plumule region. S5 CORRECT: Scutellum is lateral — NCERT explicitly states this. Therefore only S1 is incorrect.
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