DELTA (DEscription Language for TAxonomy) is a data format used in taxonomy Alpha taxonomy is the science of finding, describing and categorising organisms, thus leading to the recognition of proposed taxonomic groups, or taxa (singular: taxon), which may then be named, for recording descriptions of living things. It is designed for computer processing, allowing the generation of identification keys, diagnosis Diagnosis is the identification of the nature of anything, either by process of elimination or other analytical methods. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines, with slightly different implementations on the application of logic and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships. Below are given as examples and tools used by, etc.
It is widely accepted as a standard, one of only a few such standards. Quite a bit of software is available for various tasks, using this format. There is a website on DELTA, linking to many databases in this format. Sometimes databases in DELTA are combined with Lucid ID keys.
It was devised the CSIRO Australian Division of Entomology in 1971 to 2000, with a notable part taken by Dr. Michael J. Dallwitz.
Categories: Scientific classification | Plant taxonomy Categories: Botany | Plants | Scientific classification
