Very conveniently RandomForest in R accepts factors for the inputs (X). I assume this makes it easier to build a tree, if from the factor variable with values (a,b,c) you can build a node that splits into (a,c) and (b). In sklearn I need to encode everything as dummies (0,1) so that any relation between the a,b,c vectors is lost.
Is my interpretation correct and is there a way in sklearn to link input vectors?
If I were to encode the variable as (0,1,2) I also assume that sklearn would interpret this as 0 and 1 being close to each other and hence it would seek (eg) a split [0,1] vs [2].