Descriptors

Entity: Descriptors

Taxon descriptors

Remarks

A descriptors table is optional.

Values of the D_CHAR_TYPE attribute must be one of the following:

• • Unordered: Qualitative multistate (including two-state) characters in which the states are not arranged in a natural order.

  • Ordered: Qualitative multistate (including two-state) characters in which the states are arranged in a natural order.

  • Discrete | Integer: Quantitative characters which take only integer (whole-number) values.

  • Continuous | Real: Quantitative characters which may take fractional values.

  • Text: Free text characters.

A blank entry is interpreted as a multistate unordered descriptor.

The D_CHAR_TYPE attribute is compatible with that used for describing character states in DELTA format.