Introduction - Species Plantarum Programme

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SPECIES PLANTARUM — FLORA OF THE WORLD (1999)
INTRODUCTION
This Guide is based on that of Flora of Australia, and the examples are mainly taken from
that work, modified where necessary. They are intended to illustrate content, style and format
only, and should not be taken to be completely accurate in a world sense (they were
originally written for a continental Flora only). Other examples are completely fictitious. In
cases where particular points are not fully covered by this Guide, then conventions used in
recent volumes of the Flora of Australia will provide an acceptable default standard.
Species Plantarum — Flora of the World is intended to be a synthesis of present taxonomic
knowledge of the world's flora. Although the treatment of some groups will be based on
recent revisionary studies, it is not intended that the Flora be a monographic work: that
would take much longer to prepare. Rather, the aim is to bring together what is known and in
the process solve the more straightforward problems but not linger over difficult ones. For
many years there will be new discoveries and new problems, and taxonomists will continue
to refine understanding of plant classification.
The Flora will be published in parts of various length, as manuscripts become available.
Ideally, each of these parts will cover a whole family. For large families, a part may comprise
only a subfamily, or in some cases a large genus or group of related genera, but for ease of
reference and cataloguing, excessively small contributions are not encouraged. Authors
intending to submit only part of a family for this series should first discuss this with the
Editorial Committee / Executive Editor, so that attempts can be made to find other authors
prepared to provide complementary accounts to complete major groups.
The Flora is intended for use by professional botanists and any persons requiring
information on the names, characteristics, distribution and habitat of the world's vascular
plants. It should be understandable to anyone with a basic knowledge of plant structures.
While technical terms must often be used they should be restricted as much as possible to
those in common use. Complex and rare terms should be avoided.
The Guide takes the reader through the preparation of a Flora account using examples from
published volumes of Flora of Australia, modified where necessary. It describes the
sequence of the text and explains points of format and style.
Aspects that recur in dealing with family, genus and species are discussed when they first
arise and are then cross-referenced when mentioned later. An index is provided for locating
particular points.
Contributors to the Flora are asked to take particular care not to exceed the recommended
maximum length of descriptions. Longer descriptions will have to be edited down, and it will
save time for the contributor and editorial staff if these are avoided from the start. It must be
kept in mind that the principal aims of a Flora are to enable the reader to identify specimens
and to give a concise, accurate account of the plants of a region.
Contributors, especially those preparing large treatments, are strongly urged to submit a
sample of several descriptions at an early stage. The editorial staff will check and return
these promptly.
Presentation of manuscripts
It is preferred that manuscripts be submitted on disc in electronic form, accompanied by hard
copy. Discs readable directly by an IBM-compatible computer, using most major word
processing packages (Microsoft Word, Word for Windows, WordPerfect, Microsoft Works,
WordStar, etc.) are acceptable. When submitted in this form it is helpful if the text has basic
formatting applied (bold, italic, centring), although unformatted text files are also
acceptable. While Macintosh files can be converted, we prefer DOS-based manuscripts.
If contributors do not have access to computers, or are unable to send electronic copies of
their manuscripts, then typewritten or printed copies of manuscripts can be accepted. All
manuscripts must be typed on one side of A4 (30 cm × 21 cm) bond paper (quarto and US