We are working toward developing searches of descriptions for interactive identifications. As a first step, it should be possible to improve searches using existing technology such as proximity. Internet agents could be used to collect data pertaining to flora accounts from related sites such as type specimen and medical use databases. Information about the diagnostic characters in a lead should be most helpful for identification because the precision in identification should increase as a lead for a corresponding taxon is approached. Thus, besides an improvement in manageability, databased keys offer new options for useability and searches.
Botanists now have the opportunity to work on dynamic accounts of their floras.
References Beck, H. W., A. M. Mobini, V. Kadambari. Dallwitz, M. J. T. A. Paine, E. J. Zurcher. A general system for processing taxonomic descriptions. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York.