Introduction - Species Plantarum Programme

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SPECIES PLANTARUM — FLORA OF THE WORLD (1999)
Each principal organ (e.g. leaves, stamens) begins a new sentence and its attributes are
separated by commas. Secondary organs (e.g. lamina, anthers) are preceded by a semi-colon
and the attributes again are separated by commas. For example in the description of the leaf
in Thymelaeaceae: attributes of the whole leaf are given first, separated by commas and
ending with a semi-colon; a part of the leaf, the stipule, is then described in a new phrase.
For each organ the noun is given first in the phrase, followed by the qualifying or descriptive
adjectives. Thus, 'Petals 5, linear...' rather than 'Five petals, linear...'. It is most important that
ambiguity be avoided. Make sure that the adjectives refer to the correct noun. See also the
description of the ovary in Thymelaeaceae.
Seedlings are not described unless they show important diagnostic features, but characters of
the seed, such as endosperm, are often included.
Reference to particular genera may be made in the family description (an example would be
an atypical genus only tentatively placed in the family), but usually there is not space for
this.
Terminology
Bearing in mind the readership of the Flora, the use of technical terms should be kept to a
minimum. If a term must be used which is not in the Glossary it should be defined in a
supplementary glossary in the relevant volume. Consider whether the term will be used often
enough to justify its inclusion in a glossary. If needed for only one or two taxa it may be
preferable to explain it in the description.
Additional information
Following the description there is a paragraph of general information on the family. It should
include the number of genera and species and distribution worldwide. If the family contains
plants of major economic importance they may be mentioned here.
It may be necessary to discuss the concept of the family as treated by Brummitt and therefore
as used in the Flora, and this should be done if the concept differs from other widely-used
concepts. Alternative family names or spellings may be mentioned here.
A pantropical family of about 20 genera and 450 species. Opinions vary as to the included
genera and suprageneric classification. Lecythidaceae s. str. is confined to tropical America.
Australian material has usually been placed in the family Barringtoniaceae, characterised as
follows: stipules absent; flowers mostly in racemes, axillary or terminal; stamens incurved or
inflexed in bud, sometimes without anthers; filaments shortly united at base or sometimes
free.
Amended from Fl. Australia 8: 1 (1982)
If considered necessary there may be a further paragraph in which aspects such as
morphology, evolution and other information of general interest to flora-users are discussed.
Those seeking more detailed information will usually go to specialised references. Thus
information presented here should be concise, review-type discussion, with references to
more detailed or source material.
The last item under the family treatment is a bibliography of selected important works on the
family. It may also include non-taxonomic works: for example, in the Solanaceae, Fl.
Australia 29: 2 (1982) those by Everist (1974) and Peterson (1979) on poisonous plants and
Aboriginal use of the family, respectively. The references are arranged in chronological
order. Authors' names are not abbreviated in this bibliography; titles of articles are included.