Teaching plant identification includes demonstrating how to use dichotomous keys; this requires knowledge
of numerous botanical terms and can be challenging, confusing and frustrating for students. Here,
we developed a multimedia tool to help students (1) learn botanical terms, (2) practice, train and test
their knowledge of plant identification and (3) self-evaluate their level of learning. We generated an
interactive dichotomous key for about 280 species of vascular plants from Belgium and the surrounding
territories to help teach botany and plant identification to university students. To make the identification
keys user friendly and appealing, we constructed databases with several thousand interactive links,
including a descriptive and illustrated glossary (explaining more than 800 botanical terms with original
drawings). This interactive multimedia dichotomous key includes family, genus and species descriptions,
basic plant evolution and life cycles, as well as quizzes and tests. The description sheets present plant
morphology, vegetative and reproductive characteristics, distribution area, ecology and classification (following
Angiosperm Phylogeny group APGIII). The website is available at www.biologievegetale.be.
Here, we used plant identification as a model to apply the principles of dichotomous keys; the same
approach could be applied to all disciplines within systematics.

• An Interactive Multimedia Dichotomous Key for Teaching Plant Identification

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