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analogous in plants.example

Some features that look alike do not have a common origin and are said to be analogous. An example of analogous structures is the prickles on two groups of succulent desert plants, the cacti and the euphorbs. Cacti have spines that are modified leaves; euphorbs have thorns that are modified branches. Spines and thorns look alike and are functionally similar in that both keep animals from eating the plants. Spines and thorns are analogous. This example of analogy is also an example of convergent evolution. The cactus family and the euphorb family both developed the same morphology in response to a desert environment—the cacti in North and South America, the euphorbs in Africa and Asia. The families are not related and have no recent common ancestor.


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