Dichotomy

DICHOTOMY (from Greek dicha-in-two and temno-I-cut), the division of a single trunk into two equal parts, which in turn can also divide into two identical trunks, and so on (dichotomic branching). Frequently found in plant and animal forms (plant trunks and stems, vessels, nerves, etc.). In biology, mainly in systematics, so-called dichotomous tables are used—the division of groups of animals, plants, organs according to a characteristic that exists in some representatives and is absent or differently arranged in others. Thus, insects with wings or wingless: forms with wings will be divided into forms with two wings or four, and so on. These tables are used for practical purposes in so-called keys and in most cases do not represent a strictly scientific classification.