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63 The naming of organisms (and plant communities)
diagnostic characters: features that permit an organism to be assigned to a
particular taxon or group of taxa.
diagnostic species [or infraspecific taxa]: (phyt.) species or infraspecific
taxa which are characteristic of a particular syntaxon and facilitate
the separation of that syntaxon from others.
differentia, [pl. differentiae]: (1) (obsol.) the character or characters by
which a taxon differs from others. (2) (obsol.) those characters that
define a species; a definition; used in this sense by Linnaeus.
differential character: a distinguishing or diagnostic character.
differential hosts: (prok.) the species or cultivars of host plants, the
reactions to which determine the physiological race of an organism;
see pathovar, special form.
differential species: (phyt.) species, or infraspecific taxa, the presence of
which distinguishes a particular syntaxon from other syntaxa.
diplomatotype: (1) (zool., unoff.) a type specimen of a taxon described
soley for political purposes, e.g. to gain access to otherwise
unavailable government lands (!). (2) (zool., unoff.) the type of a
taxon named after a person with whom the author wishes to have
good relations (!).
diplotype: see genoholotype.
direct reference: a bibliographic reference in which full publication details
are provided including the author, place of publication, volume,
page(s) or plate references, and date.
Direction: (zool., obsol.) a term formerly used but now abandoned, which
under earlier editions of the Code was a statement published by the
Commission (ICZN), giving the result of a decision completing or
correcting a ruling given in an Opinion; replaced by Official
Corrections (q.v.).
disagreeable epithet: (cult. pl.) one whose use in a certain culture might
cause offence.
disagreeable name: (obsol.) an inappropriate name (q.v.); see also
disagreeable epithet.
disclaimed: of a work, one with a disclaimer (q.v.).