Make a Cladogram

Question

Make a cladogram for these flowers: Thunbergia erecta, Plumbago auriculata, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Camellia japonica 'Elegans', Catharanthus roseus, Ixora coccinea 'Peach Delight', Spathiphyllum wallisii, Tabernaemontana divaricata, Euphorbia pulcherrima, andRosa rugosa 'Hansa' .

Answer 1

Creating a cladogram without specific information about the characteristics and shared traits among the mentioned flowers is challenging. Cladograms are typically based on morphological, genetic, or other shared characteristics that reflect evolutionary relationships.

If you have specific traits or characteristics that you'd like to use to construct a cladogram, please provide that information, and I'll be happy to assist you in creating a visual representation. However, here is a solution with some basic assumptions:

**Assumptions:**

1. **Flower Color:**

- Group 1: White flowers

- Group 2: Pink flowers

- Group 3: Red flowers

- Group 4: Yellow flowers

2. **Leaf Type:**

- Group 1: Simple leaves

- Group 2: Compound leaves

3. **Flower Type:**

- Group 1: Single, non-clustered flowers

- Group 2: Clustered flowers

4. **Growth Form:**

- Group 1: Shrubs

- Group 2: Trees

- Group 3: Herbaceous plants

Now, let's construct a basic cladogram:

+-- Thunbergia erecta (4)

|

+-- Plumbago auriculata (2)

|

+------------+-- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (3)

|

| +-- Camellia japonica 'Elegans' (1)

| |

| +-- Catharanthus roseus (4)

|

+-------+------+-----+-- Ixora coccinea 'Peach Delight' (3)

| | |

| | +-- Spathiphyllum wallisii (1)

| |

| +------------ Tabernaemontana divaricata (1)

|

| +-- Euphorbia pulcherrima (4)

| |

+-------------------+-- Rosa rugosa 'Hansa' (3)

Here, the numbers in parentheses represent the groups based on our assumptions. The cladogram suggests a basic hierarchical structure based on the assumed morphological characteristics. We assigned groups (represented by numbers in parentheses) to each flower based on traits such as flower color, leaf type, flower type, and growth form. Here's an explanation of the cladogram:

1. **Thunbergia erecta (4):** This flower is placed in Group 4, indicating that it has yellow flowers.

2. **Plumbago auriculata (2):** Plumbago auriculata is grouped in Group 2, suggesting it has pink flowers.

3. **Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (3):** Placed in Group 3, this flower is associated with red flowers.

4. **Camellia japonica 'Elegans' (1):** Camellia japonica 'Elegans' is placed in Group 1, suggesting it has white flowers.

5. **Catharanthus roseus (4):** This flower is placed in Group 4, indicating yellow flowers.

6. **Ixora coccinea 'Peach Delight' (3):** Placed in Group 3, suggesting red flowers.

7. **Spathiphyllum wallisii (1):** This flower is placed in Group 1, indicating white flowers.

8. **Tabernaemontana divaricata (1):** Placed in Group 1, suggesting white flowers.

9. **Euphorbia pulcherrima (4):** This flower is placed in Group 4, indicating yellow flowers.

10. **Rosa rugosa 'Hansa' (3):** Placed in Group 3, suggesting red flowers.

It's important to note that these assumptions are artificial and do not necessarily reflect the actual evolutionary history of these flowers.