 In phylogenetics, the term "basal" can be objectively applied to clades of organisms, but tends to be applied selectively and more controversially to groups or lineages thought to possess ancestral characters, or to such presumed ancestral traits themselves.In describing characters, "ancestral" or "plesiomorphic" are preferred to "basal" or "primitive", the latter of which may carry false connotations of inferiority or a lack of complexity.Despite the ubiquity of the usage of "basal", some systematists believe its application to extant groups is unnecessary and misleading.