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Abstract Detail


Systematics Section

Kirchoff, Bruce [1].

A New Type of Paper Visual Key (to the Fagaceae of the Southeastern United States).

Standard keys are terminology-based tools for plant identification,which are often supplemented with images. Visual keys are identification tools that are primarily visual, supplemented by some text. Traditional,terminology-based keys do not take advantage of the forte of visual experts,pattern recognition. Visual keys, on the other hand, are primarily image-based,and take advantage of these abilities. Characters in these types of keys are visually, not verbally defined. In this paper a set of paper visual keys to the Fagaceae of the southeastern United States are presented. Photographs of the Fagaceae were obtained from internet databases, or were taken specifically for this project. The images were printed, and then sorted into hierarchical groups. These hierarchical groups of images were used to create the "couplets" of the keys. A reciprocal process of key creation and testing was used to produce the final keys. Four keys were created, one for each of the following plant parts -leaves, buds, fruits, and bark. Species description pages consisting of multiple images were also created for each of the covered species. Creation and testing of the key has resulted in a list of best practices for image use in visual keys.

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1 - University Of North Carolina At Greensboro, Department Of Biology, PO BOX 26170, GREENSBORO, NC, 27402-6170, USA

Keywords:
keys
Fagaceae
Identification
Quercus
Oaks.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 51
Location: Lindell A/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
Time: 4:00 PM
Number: 51011
Abstract ID:236


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