ActKey: Web-based Interactive Identification Keys

Flora of China

To: ActKey: Web-based Interactive Identification Keys

Additional key formats:

Overview

A number of web-based interactive identification keys are available for the floras of China, North America, Madagascar, Borneo, and the world, in a program called 'ActKey' at the Harvard University Herbaria Editorial Center. Examples include several keys to the large and medium-sized genera of China (also in Chinese); the genera of Brassicaceae of the world by Ihsan Al-Shehbaz; Salix (Salicaceae) of North America by George W. Argus (also in Chinese); angiosperm families by B. Hansen and K. Rahn (also in Chinese and Spanish); Trilliaceae (Trillium and Paris) of the world by Susan B. Farmer, the generic tree flora of Madagascar by George Schatz, and the trees & shrubs of Borneo by James K. Jarvie & Ermayanti, respectively.

The latest version of a web browser is recommended for best results. Clicking on a character in the left frame opens a new window with a list of character states followed by the number of taxa having that particular state, character statistics (min., max.) for counts and measurements, and character notes. After entering one or more state(s) for any character(s) in the left frame, clicking on resultant taxon names in the right frame opens a new window with descriptions and links for dynamic lookups to related data and images. Various character list displays (language display, best character sort) are further options. For example, in addition to English, some of the keys are also available in other languages in which the character list was translated, such as Chinese and Spanish.

Hong Song of the Missouri Botanical Garden, developed this Java-based program using MySQL as the database server. Botanists interested in sharing their data sets (e.g., DELTA, MS Excel, MS Access, Lucid formats) via this Web-based system, or interested in translating any of the character sets into another language may contact Hong Song or Anthony R. Brach (brach (at) oeb.harvard.edu).

For more information about the program, please see the following papers:

Brach, A. R. & H. Song. 2005. ActKey: a Web-based interactive identification key program. Taxon 54(4): 1041-1046.
Kuoh, Chang-Sheng & Hong Song. 2005. Interactive key to Taiwan grasses using characters of leaf anatomy - the ActKey approach. Taiwania 50: 261-271.

Identification keys are also available in DELTA Intkey and NaviKey formats.

Support was provided by various annual grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Starr Foundation, and the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust.