 Each node in the tree corresponds to a clade; i.e., clade "C" may be described as basal within a larger clade "D" if its root is directly linked to the root of "D".The terms "deep-branching" or "early-branching" are similar in meaning.While there must always be two or more equally basal clades sprouting from the root of every cladogram, those clades may differ widely in taxonomic rank, species diversity, or both.