Table 3.

Results of a classification tree analysis presented in the form of a dichotomous key. (The first split is based on the trait ‘lateral displacement’ with values greater than 0.9 (54 species) or less than 0.9 (101 species). For species with a value greater than 0.9, the next split is on the trait ‘tensile strength’ with values greater than 0.25 nearly all assigned to Madagascar. The study area column indicates the number of species in the terminal groups in Madagascar (M), and African study sites (C=Cedarberg, EC=eastern Cape thicket, Z=Zululand savannahs and thickets).)

				study area
				M	C	EC	Z
lateral displacement greater than 0.9	tensile strength greater than 0.25			41			1
	tensile strength less than 0.25			2	4	1	5
lateral displacement less than 0.9	thin twigs greater than 0.65
		leaf class greater than 0.5
			tensile strength greater than 0.75	3
			tensile strength less than 0.75	0	12	4	1
		leaf class less than 0.5		0	2	1	6
	thin twigs less than 0.65
		leaf class greater than 0.15
			thin twigs greater than 0.4	1	1	13	3
			thin twigs less than 0.4			16	15
		leaf class less than 0.15				6	17
			total	47	19	41	48