Phylogenetic Analysis of Angiosperms: Unraveling Evolutionary Relationships and Identifying Monophyletic Groups and Synapomorphies through Cladograms and Character Matrix

This research paper primarily focused on the plant species Ruellia tuberosa, Scoparia dulcis, Tridax procumbens, Cyanthillium cinereum, and Alternanthera sessilis, where Papaver rhoeas considered as an outgroup. The methodological process utilized a cladistic approach, which led to the selection of character and taxa, determination of character state, construction of color coded matrix, identification of outgroup, modification of matrix, construction of cladogram, and lastly, the phylogenetic analysis. The three categories of the researchers' hypotheses, which serve as the paper's pillars,were as follows: the postulated hypothesis of monophyletic, paraphyletic, and polyphyletic group ofthe six chosen plants. Moreover,the systematic analysis depicted that the traits of the taxa evolved from primitive to advanced traits, with taproot system, erect stem and filiform stigma as the primitive traits. However, the presence of flowers, radial flower symmetry, and an abundance of stamens are identified as the six plants' ancestraltraits. The final analysis ofthe data showed thatthe first monophyletic group was made up ofRuellia tuberosa and Scoparia dulcis, and the second was made up of Tridax procumbens, Cyanthillium cinereum, and Alternanthera sessilis. In addition, the paraphyletic group included Scoparia dulcis, Tridax procumbens, Cyanthillium cinereum, and Alternanthera sessilis, according to the analysis. Furthermore,the research paper would give a path on the relation ofthe plants and identified closely related species, with a particular emphasis on their vegetative and reproductive characteristics. In conclusion, this study will help us understand the taxonomy of plants by shedding light on their evolutionary background, adaptive traits, and relationships.