Character

• Title

  Character

• Definition

  A morphological, anatomical, or molecular feature of an organism that helps distinguish a taxon from other taxa.

• Notes

  An example of a character is the type of symmetry in neotropical Lecyhtidaceae. Within this character are three character states: actinomorphic, oblique zygmorophic, and zygomorphic. For more information see the specialized glossary of Lecythidaceae on the home page of this glossrary. Morphological phylogenetic studies are based on a matrix of characters and their character states.

• Related Terms

  Character state

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