Tap Root vs Fibrous Root

• Tap root: arises from radicle; main root persists; lateral roots present (seen in dicots like mustard).
• Fibrous root: primary root short-lived; replaced by many roots from stem base (seen in monocots like wheat).

Adventitious Root vs Lateral Root

• Lateral roots: arise from primary root.
• Adventitious roots: arise from any plant part other than radicle, e.g., banyan prop roots, Monstera roots.

Region of Elongation vs Region of Maturation

• Region of elongation: cells rapidly enlarge to increase root length.
• Region of maturation: cells differentiate; root hairs appear here.

Stem vs Root (morphology)

• Stem: nodes, internodes, axillary/terminal buds, generally green, bears leaves.
• Root: no nodes/internodes; no buds; bears root hairs, root cap.

Simple Leaf vs Compound Leaf

• Simple: lamina entire or incised but not reaching midrib.
• Compound: incision reaches midrib to form leaflets; bud is at petiole axil, not leaflet axil.

Pinnately Compound vs Palmately Compound

• Pinnate: leaflets arranged along rachis (e.g., neem).
• Palmate: leaflets arise from a single point at petiole tip (e.g., silk cotton).

Reticulate Venation vs Parallel Venation

• Reticulate: network-like veins; characteristic of dicots.
• Parallel: veins run parallel; characteristic of monocots. 

Alternate vs Opposite vs Whorled Phyllotaxy

• Alternate: one leaf per node (china rose).
• Opposite: two leaves per node, opposite each other (guava).
• Whorled: more than two leaves at a node (Alstonia). 

Racemose vs Cymose Inflorescence

• Racemose: main axis continues to grow; flowers show acropetal succession.
• Cymose: main axis terminates in a flower; flowers show basipetal succession.

Actinomorphic vs Zygomorphic Flower

• Actinomorphic: radially symmetrical (mustard, chilli).
• Zygomorphic: bilaterally symmetrical (pea, gulmohur).

Hypogynous vs Perigynous vs Epigynous Flowers

• Hypogynous: ovary at top; others below; ovary superior (mustard).
• Perigynous: floral parts on rim of thalamus; ovary half-inferior (rose).
• Epigynous: thalamus encloses ovary; ovary inferior (guava).

Gamosepalous vs Polysepalous

• Gamosepalous: sepals fused.
• Polysepalous: sepals free.

Gamopetalous vs Polypetalous

• Gamopetalous: petals fused (tubular/funnel/bell).
• Polypetalous: petals free.

Valvate vs Twisted vs Imbricate vs Vexillary Aestivation

• Valvate: margins just touch (Calotropis).
• Twisted: each overlaps next (china rose).
• Imbricate: irregular overlapping (Cassia).
• Vexillary: standard > wings > keel (pea).

Apocarpous vs Syncarpous

• Apocarpous: carpels free (lotus, rose).
• Syncarpous: carpels fused (mustard, tomato).

Types of Placentation

• Marginal: Ovules on ridge of ovary margin.
• Axile: Ovules on central axis of multilocular ovary.
• Parietal: Ovules on inner ovary wall.
• Free central: Ovules on central axis without septa.
• Basal: Single ovule at base of ovary.

Dicot Seed vs Monocot Seed

• Dicot: two cotyledons; seed coat with testa/tegmen; embryo with plumule/radicle; may be endospermic or non-endospermic.
• Monocot: one cotyledon (scutellum); large endosperm; aleurone layer; coleoptile/coleorhiza.

Berry vs Drupe

• Berry: fleshy pericarp; usually many seeds (tomato).
• Drupe: differentiated pericarp; inner stony endocarp; one seed (mango/coconut).

Bracteate vs Ebracteate

• Bracteate: flowers have small leaf-like bracts at pedicel base.
• Ebracteate: bracts absent.

Free Stamens vs Monadelphous/Diadelphous/Polyadelphous

• Polyandrous: stamens free.
• Monadelphous: stamens fused into one bundle (china rose).
• Diadelphous: stamens in two bundles (pea).
• Polyadelphous: stamens in multiple bundles (citrus).