[Campbell Biology P.702] Based on the provided phylogenetic tree depicting land plant evolut... | Practice Question

Based on the provided phylogenetic tree depicting land plant evolution, which of the following derived characters appeared earliest in the lineage leading to angiosperms after diverging from Charophyte green algae?

  • A: Flowers
  • B: Embryos
  • C: Seeds
  • D: Vascular tissue

Explanation

The phylogenetic tree illustrates the sequence of derived characters. Embryos are the earliest derived character shared by all land plants Mosses, Ferns, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms after their divergence from Charophyte green algae. Vascular tissue appeared later, then seeds, and finally flowers.