r/AskBiology • u/Leo-Len • 1d ago
Evolution What rank should place a fictional characteristic of a group of fictional plants/trees?
Hi!
Biology is not my specialty by any means, so I have come to reddit for help with my worldbuilding project!
In a world I'm writing, there are a type of plants which use a fictional energy source (call it soul, magic, mana, ect.) This characteristic is found in trees, flowers, and grasses, and I am stuck wondering if its a unique enough aspect to appear in a taxonomy rank.
Thing is I'm not sure if its important enough for that as carnivorous plants are unique among most plants, and yet they evolved the trait completely separately. If I did want a number of trees to have evolved the trait from a common ancestor, what rank would make the most sense to have this characteristic associated with it?
Very sorry at how this was phrased. Anyway, thanks!
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u/JohnHenryMillerTime 1d ago
Since you arent a biologist I would just go "it aint that kind of a story kid". Unless one of your main characters has a hardon for cladistics you dont need to explain much.
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u/conservio 1d ago
Depends- how related are the plants? Did multiple lineages evolve this ability independent of each other or did it arise in a common ancestor that then radiated into several species?
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u/Leo-Len 1d ago
All the trees evolved from a common ancestor, but there are separate species more akin to flowers and reeds which independently evolved. I'd like there to be a distinction between the carnivorous active seekers of the energy and the passive absorbers like the trees mentioned.
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u/Swellmeister 1d ago
Unlocking access to a widespread energy source? Sounds like the something that would very effective and cause easy radiation. Maybe on par with nitrogen fixing of the family of fabacaeae (im high that might be spelled wrong), or perhaps the cladistic grouping of angiosperms.