( Spines ( ( = ( ( modified leaves ) ( -LRB- ( ( e.g. ( ( some species ) ( of cactus ) ) ) -RRB- ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Spines)) (VP (VBZ =) (NP (NP (VBN modified) (NNS leaves)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (VP (VBN e.g.) (NP (NP (DT some) (NN species)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN cactus))))) (-RRB- -RRB-)))) (. .)))
Spines = modified leaves (e.g. some species of cactus).
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NNS spines)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT a) (NN cactus)))) (VP (VBP help) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBP survive) (SBAR (IN because) (S (NP (NNS spines)) (VP (VB protect) (NP (DT the) (NN cactus)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NNS animals)))))))))) (. .)))