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? presence of sepals arrangement of petals number of petals number of carpals Solution The different types of species should have the common type of traits is know as ancestral trait. It also has a genetic similarities like dogs, horses, donkey all have 4 legs they all arise from common ancestors. In this case, only arrangement of petals follows the ancestral trait because all the 4 species has the genetic similarities and common traits is whorled. Other traits like number of carples and petals having different numbers in different species so, they are not a ancestral traits..