Create a Phylogenetic Tree

Question

Provide a phylogenetic tree of the following plants ( Make sure to arrange it properly and include labels) :

Thunbergia erecta, Tabernaemontana divaricate, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Plumbago auriculate, Camellia japonica 'Elegans', Euphorbia pulcherrima, Begonia aconitifolia, Spathiphyllum wallisii, Rosa rugosa 'Hansa', and Ixora coccinea 'Peach Delight'

Answer 1

1. Base of the Tree:

Start with the earliest diverging groups.

• Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia) might be placed here, as it belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, which is generally considered an early-diverging lineage among the dicots.

2. Next Branches:

• Camellia japonica ‘Elegans’ and Rosa rugosa ‘Hansa’ might be closer together, as they are both part of the broad group of eudicots.

• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis might be placed nearby, being another eudicot but in a different family (Malvaceae).

3. Middle Branches:

• Ixora coccinea ‘Peach Delight’ (Rubiaceae) and Tabernaemontana divaricata (Apocynaceae) could be grouped together, as both are part of the asterids.

• Plumbago auriculata might be placed in proximity, also being an asterid.

4. Later Branches:

• Begonia aconitifolia and Spathiphyllum wallisii can be placed further up, as they belong to different families and are part of the monocots, which typically diverge later in most phylogenetic trees.

• Thunbergia erecta might be placed with other asterids but distinguished by its specific family characteristics.

Hypothetical Phylogenetic Tree:

Euphorbia pulcherrima

|

|---- Camellia japonica 'Elegans'

| |

| ---- Rosa rugosa 'Hansa'

| |

| ---- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

|

|---- Ixora coccinea 'Peach Delight'

| |

| ---- Tabernaemontana divaricata

| |

| ---- Plumbago auriculata

|

|---- Begonia aconitifolia

|

---- Spathiphyllum wallisii

|

---- Thunbergia erecta

Labels: Each plant is represented by its scientific name, and branches are arranged from the earliest diverging (at the bottom) to the most recently diverging (towards the top).

Answer 2

┌───── Begonia aconitifolia

│

│ ┌───── Rosa rugosa 'Hansa'

├───────┤

│ │ ┌───── Ixora coccinea 'Peach Delight'

│ ├───────┤

│ │ │ ┌───── Thunbergia erecta

│ │ ├───────┤

│ │ │ │ ┌───── Plumbago auriculata

│ │ │ ├───────┤

└────────┤ │ │ │ ┌───── Tabernaemontana divaricata

│ │ │ ├───────┤

│ └────────┤ │ │ ┌───── Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

│ │ ├───────┤

│ │ │ │ ┌───── Camellia japonica 'Elegans'

│ │ │ └───────┤

│ └────────┤ │ ┌───── Euphorbia pulcherrima

│ │ ├───────┤

│ └─────────────────┤ │ ┌───── Spathiphyllum wallisii

│ │ ├───────┤

│ └────────┤ │ ┌───── Not Specified

│ │ ├───────┤

│ │ │ │

└────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │

└────────┤ │

└────────┤

│

└───── Not Specified