Interactive Multiple-Entry Key for Plant Identification - MEKA

MEKA (pronounced "mecca") is an interactive Multiple-Entry Key Algorithm to
enable rapid identification of biological specimens. Earlier versions of the
program used a command-line interface. The version offered here is the first
version developed to run under Windows. MEKA is controlled by mouse clicks; no
text is entered. This approach allows very rapid access to program functions.

The user picks character states that are present in the specimen from a list of
possibilities. As the character states are scored by picking them, MEKA
eliminates taxa that no longer match the list of scored character states.
Different windows display different aspects of the underlying data base. As the
identification progresses the windows are updated automatically. An index
screen makes it easy to find and score particular classes of character states.
MEKA does not lead the user in a fixed stepwise progression through a series of
questions. Instead, the user can perform identifications by scoring character
states in any order. This makes it possible to identify specimens that are much
more fragmentary than is possible with dichotomous keys. (Source: UCJEPS)