A new identification aid combining features of a polyclave and an analytical key

A new identification aid combining features of a polyclave and an analytical key is described. It is based on presence-or-absence characters and is presented in the form of a matrix, with the characters in rows and the taxa in columns. The PHYTOTAB program package is used to order the matrix, in order to facilitate identification. The method was used to construct an identification aid for vegetative material and has wider taxonomic and teaching implications.