by Tuomo Niemela & Evgeniy Meyke

University of Helsinki, 1999

The preparation of CD Guide to the Polypores of Finland was started in winter 1999. Most part of the work was done during spring and summer, and the autumn was spent for finishing. A trial version of CD Guide was tested in some polypore courses in August-October 1999.

Guide to the polypores of Finland by Tuomo Niemelä (at present 12th edition) has been the main source of information on these fungi in the country since its first publishing in 1981. The greatest drawback in that book was the lack of colour pictures. CD Guide improves the situation: there is at least one colour photograph for every species found in Finland. Most were taken in situ, but a few rarest had to be photographed from herbarium.

Guide-books to polypores usually include traditional keys, in which one can proceed from one pair of alternatives to the next, until the species name is reached. This computer program works otherwise: the whole set of characters is at hand simultaneously, and identification can be started from any of the most striking features of the specimen.

Together these sources hopefully give a reasonably sound picture on the polypore flora of Finland as it is known now. However, almost every year new species are found, and so it is worth while keeping an eye on upcoming releases and editions.

CD Guide was prepared so that Evgeniy Meyke did the programming and prepared the first versions, to be developed together. Tuomo Niemelä is responsible for the data on polypore species, illustrations and the selection of characters for identifications. Anyhow, whole work was done jointly, resulting in this guide and the computer program TAXIS (Taxonomic Information System).

Luonnontieteellinen keskusmuseo, Kasvimuseo

Finnish Museum of Natural History, Botanical Museum

ISBN 951-45-9026-0

University Press, Helsinki 1999

	Main window with identification in progress.		A species is selected in the list of possible species. Used character states which are not present in the species are marked red. Species information is displayed on the species information page.
	A character state is selected in the character tree. State information is displayed on the character information page.		Species is selected in the species tree. Character states of this species are displayed in the mid-section. Character state information is displayed on the character information page.
	The character state is selected in the character tree. The list of species that have the selected character state is displayed in the mid-section. Species information page (on the right side) shows the species selected in the list.		Identification is in progress. The species is selected in the possible species list.Used character states that are not present in the selected species are marked red.Selected species information is displayed on the right.