Eudicots

Eudicots Temporal range: Early Cretaceous - recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Two seed leaves during germination (Brassica sp.)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Streptophyta
Clade:	Embryophytes
Clade:	Polysporangiophytes
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Spermatophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clades (APG IV)
Basal eudicots: Buxales Proteales Ranunculales Trochodendrales Core eudicots: Clades Superasterids Superrosids Orders Dilleniales Gunnerales

The eudicots, Eudicotidae, or eudicotyledons are a clade of flowering plants (angiosperms) which are mainly characterized by having two seed leaves (cotyledons) upon germination.^[1] The term derives from dicotyledon (etymologically, eu = true; di = two; cotyledon = seed leaf). Previously, they were called tricolpates or non-magnoliid dicots by past authors. The current botanical terms were introduced in 1991, by evolutionary botanist James A. Doyle and paleobotanist Carol L. Hotton, to emphasize the later evolutionary divergence of tricolpate dicots from earlier, less specialized, dicots.^[2]

Scores of familiar plants are eudicots, including many commonly cultivated and edible plants, numerous trees, tropicals and ornamentals. Among the most well-known eudicot genera are those of the sunflower (Helianthus), dandelion (Taraxacum), forget-me-not (Myosotis), cabbage (Brassica), apple (Malus), buttercup (Ranunculus), maple (Acer) and macadamia (Macadamia). Most leafy, mid-latitude trees are also classified as eudicots, with notable exceptions being the magnolias and American tulip tree (Liriodendron)—which belong to the magnoliids—and Ginkgo biloba, which is not an angiosperm.