title: Trefle Vocabulary
description: >-
  Domain vocabulary for the Trefle botanical data API covering plant taxonomy,
  morphology, growth requirements, geographic distributions, and botanical
  classification concepts aligned with TDWG standards.
created: "2026-05-03"
modified: "2026-05-03"

terms:
  - term: Species
    definition: >-
      The fundamental taxonomic unit in botany. In Trefle, a species record
      includes scientific name, common names, morphological data, growth
      requirements, edibility, and geographic distribution ranges.
    tags:
      - Core Concept
      - Taxonomy
    related:
      - Genus
      - Family

  - term: Plant
    definition: >-
      The top-level Trefle entity that groups species and subspecies under a
      common plant concept. Each plant has an ID, slug, main species, and
      links to its full species data.
    tags:
      - Core Concept
      - Taxonomy

  - term: Slug
    definition: >-
      A URL-safe identifier for plants and species in Trefle, derived from
      the scientific name (e.g., "solanum-lycopersicum" for Solanum lycopersicum).
      Used in API paths for stable resource identification.
    tags:
      - API Design
      - Identifier

  - term: Kingdom
    definition: >-
      The highest taxonomic rank in Trefle's botanical classification hierarchy.
      Plant species belong to the Plantae kingdom.
    tags:
      - Taxonomy
      - Classification

  - term: Division
    definition: >-
      A major taxonomic grouping within a kingdom, equivalent to "phylum" in
      animal taxonomy. Examples include Magnoliophyta (flowering plants) and
      Pinophyta (conifers).
    tags:
      - Taxonomy
      - Classification

  - term: Family
    definition: >-
      A taxonomic rank grouping related genera. Examples include Solanaceae
      (nightshade family) and Rosaceae (rose family). Trefle includes both
      scientific and common family names.
    tags:
      - Taxonomy
      - Classification

  - term: Genus
    definition: >-
      A taxonomic rank below family and above species. The first word in a
      binomial scientific name (e.g., "Solanum" in Solanum lycopersicum).
    tags:
      - Taxonomy
      - Classification

  - term: Distribution
    definition: >-
      A geographic zone in Trefle representing a region where a plant species
      occurs. Based on TDWG (Taxonomic Databases Working Group) geographic
      codes. Each distribution record has a tdwg_code, level, and species count.
    tags:
      - Geography
      - Range Data

  - term: Establishment
    definition: >-
      The status of a plant species in a geographic zone. Trefle uses the
      following values: native (originated there), introduced (brought by
      humans), naturalised (introduced but self-sustaining), endemic (found
      only there), and uncertain.
    tags:
      - Distribution
      - Ecology

  - term: TDWG
    definition: >-
      Taxonomic Databases Working Group (now Biodiversity Information Standards).
      Trefle uses TDWG geographic codes (tdwg_code) to standardize plant
      distribution zones globally.
    tags:
      - Standards
      - Geography

  - term: Edible Part
    definition: >-
      The parts of a plant species that are edible for human consumption.
      Values include fruit, root, leaves, seed, flower, stem, bark, and others.
      Trefle tracks edibility at the species level.
    tags:
      - Edibility
      - Agriculture

  - term: Growth Habit
    definition: >-
      The general growth form of a plant species. Trefle values include erect,
      spreading, climbing, stoloniferous, mat-forming, and others. Used to
      characterize how a plant grows in space.
    tags:
      - Morphology
      - Growth

  - term: Ligneous Type
    definition: >-
      Classification of woody vs. non-woody growth in Trefle species records.
      Values include wood (trees and shrubs), semi-wood (semi-woody), and
      herb (herbaceous/non-woody).
    tags:
      - Morphology
      - Classification

  - term: Light Requirement
    definition: >-
      A numeric value (0-10) in Trefle species growth data representing the
      plant's light requirement. 0 = full shade, 10 = full sun.
    tags:
      - Growth
      - Cultivation

  - term: Soil Humidity
    definition: >-
      A numeric value (0-10) in Trefle species growth data representing
      preferred soil moisture. 0 = very dry, 10 = flooded/aquatic.
    tags:
      - Growth
      - Cultivation