Online identification keys.

[Peter Stevens]

>Glosseries and character definitions - yes!  However, I have been
>preparing a glossary for /APweb/ and am dismayed at the sheer
>proliferation of terms, many synonyms, some (the worst) with partly
>overlapping definitions, but for no apparent reason, and a number
>just plain useless, simply being something "hard" that has to be
>learned before one can understand a description.  That being said, I
>can see that a case could be made for having "latinised" plant
>terms, since they are likely to be easier for non-english speakers
>to understand, and so help the general cause of communication.
>Also, depending on what one is writing a glossary for, the
>definitions may reasonbly be somewhat different.  Thus for general
>identification purposes some Clusiaceae have stipules just as much
>as at least some seedling Memecylon do, as much as Salicaceae do -
>whether or not they all "really" have stipules is a separate issue..

Peter S.



>Simple interactive identification of the vascular flora of Western
>Australia is available in FloraBase, http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au
>.  The identification process is simplistic, without iterative
>interrogation, 'best' character ranking or the inclusion of
>'unknowns' in the taxa matched.  However, it is based on a
>maintained DELTA dataset and so a fully interactive key to the
>12,500 vascular plant taxa in WA is possible in future.
>
>We have found that a web-enabled key of this nature integrated into
>the herbarium's other maintained datasets of names and specimens,
>plus taxon images and maps is a very powerful tool for both
>scientists and the community.
>
>Additionally, interactive keys (using Intkey) to the families and
>genera of flowering plants in WA are soon to be added to FloraBase,
>with specialist keys for certain significant genera also well
>advanced.
>
>I would strongly concur with the notion that illustrated glossaries
>and detailed character definitions are an essential tool in the
>development and presentation of interactive keys.  They should be
>considered an integral part of the data coding and development of
>any interactive key product, regardless of the specific software
>tool chosen.
>
>Regards,
>Alex
>____
>Alex R. Chapman                   Email: alexc at calm.wa.gov.au
>Editor - Nuytsia              http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au
>Research Scientist           Voice/Fax: +61 8 9334 0513 /0515
>WA Herbarium - Department of Conservation and Land Management
>Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre Western Australia 6983
>
>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: Roger Hyam [mailto:roger at HYAM.NET]
>>  Sent: Wednesday, 30 July 2003 11:48 PM
>>  To: TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG
>>  Subject: Online identification keys.
>>
>>
>>  I am doing a little research into online, interactive identification
>>  keys principly of plants but animals would be interesting to.
>>
>>  Has anyone got favourites they could suggest?
>>
>>  What would people really like from such a key?
>>