Update _decompose.py (#266)

* Update _decompose.py

* Update _decompose.py

* Update _decompose.py

* Update _decompose.py

* Update _decompose.py

* Update _decompose.py

* removing trailing whitespace

gneiss/plot/_decompose.py

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def balance_boxplot(balance_name, data, num_color='#FFFFFF',
                     denom_color='#FFFFFF',
                     xlabel="", ylabel="", linewidth=1,
                     ax=None, **kwargs):
-    """ Plots a boxplot for a given balance and the associated metadata.
+    """ Plots a boxplot for a given balance on a discrete metadata category.
 
     Parameters
     ----------
@@ -83,7 +83,10 @@ def balance_barplots(tree, balance_name, header, feature_metadata,
                      ndim=5, num_color="#0000FF", denom_color="#0000FF",
                      xlabel="", ylabel="",
                      axes=(None, None)):
-    """ Plots barplots of counts of features found in the balance.
+    """ Plots barplots of features found in a given balance.
+        These are the most abundant taxa on each side of the balance
+        (numerator & denominator).  The x-axis is the number of features
+        within the taxonomic classification denoted on the y-axis.
 
     Parameters
     ----------
@@ -96,7 +99,7 @@ def balance_barplots(tree, balance_name, header, feature_metadata,
     feature_metadata : pd.DataFrame
         Contains information about the features.
     ndim : int
-        Number of bars to display at a given time (default=5)
+        Number of bars (features) to display at a given time (default=5)
     num_color : str
         Hex for background colors of values above zero.
     denom_color : str