Examine the Following Table of Characters in Four Different Species

Multiple Choice

Examine the following table of characters in four different species of flower. Based on the character matrix, which is MOST likely an ancestral trait for the group of species? $$\begin{array} { | l | c | c | c | c | } \hline & \text { Species A } & \text { Species B } & \text { Species C } & \text { Species D } \\\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { Presence of } \\\text { sepals }\end{array} & \text { yes } & \text { yes } & \text { yes } & \text { no } \\\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { Number of } \\\text { petals }\end{array} & \text { five } & \text { five } & \text { ten } & \text { ten } \\\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { Arrangement of } \\\text { petals }\end{array} & \text { whorled } & \text { whorled } & \text { whorled } & \text { whorled } \\\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { Number of } \\\text { carpels }\end{array} & \text { ten } & \text { ten } & \text { ten } & \text { five } \\\hline\end{array}$$

A) presence of sepals
B) number of petals
C) arrangement of petals
D) number of carpels