monocots stems?

Question

Why does the structure of the monocot stem make it difficult to produce good, strong wood?

Answer 1

Perhaps it is a matter of monocotyledonous plants tend to not need the support of strong wood. That would probably relate to time. When did dicots evolve? was there more competition for space hence a need for stems strong enough to support a large canopy? How many monocots are perennials? What of polycots?

Is it a matter of how much cellulose and its distribution is sufficient unto the life form?

Answer 2

Vascular bundle (parts of wood) are scattered in monocots, in dicots they are in rings and add layers each year. Monocots tend to die back each year, thus do not add strength year after year such as dicots.

. . . and if you didn’t know, now you do . . .