title: Simple Web-based interactive key development software (WEBiKEY) and an example key for Kuruna (Poaceae: Bambusoideae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Programs that are user-friendly and freely available for developing Web-based interactive keys are scarce and most of the well-structured applications are relatively expensive. WEBiKEY was developed to enable researchers to easily develop their own Web-based interactive keys with fewer resources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A Web-based multiaccess identification tool (WEBiKEY) was developed that uses freely available Microsoft ASP.NET technologies and an SQL Server database for Windows-based hosting environments. WEBiKEY was tested for its usability with a sample data set, the temperate woody bamboo genus Kuruna (Poaceae).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WEBiKEY is freely available to the public and can be used to develop Web-based interactive keys for any group of species. The interactive key we developed for Kuruna using WEBiKEY enables users to visually inspect characteristics of Kuruna and identify an unknown specimen as one of seven possible species in the genus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 USA.
authors.forename: Lakshmi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Attigala
authors.affiliation: Iowa Crop Improvement Association, 4611 Mortensen Road, Suite 101, Ames, Iowa 50014 USA.
authors.forename: Nuwan I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: De Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 USA.
authors.forename: Lynn G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Clark
keywords: Kuruna; Poaceae; WEBiKEY; bamboos; identification tools; interactive keys