[Campbell Biology P.697] Which of the following characteristics is NOT commonly attributed t... | Practice Question

Which of the following characteristics is NOT commonly attributed to the angiosperm common ancestor or early diverging angiosperm lineages, based on the provided text?

  • A: Woody shrub
  • B: Small flowers
  • C: Efficient water-conducting vessel elements
  • D: Relatively simple water-conducting cells

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'Like the Bennettitales, Amborella, water lilies, and star anise lack vessel elements, efficient water-conducting cells that are found in most present-day angiosperms.' This indicates that efficient water-conducting vessel elements were NOT a common characteristic of the angiosperm common ancestor or early diverging lineages.