Introduction - Species Plantarum Programme

Bibliography of illustrations
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SPECIES PLANTARUM — FLORA OF THE WORLD (1999)
Following the synonyms there may be a paragraph citing one to three published illustrations
of the species. These should be good, representative illustrations in readily available works.
Photographs may be cited provided they show detail of the flowers or fruit. Where there are
infraspecific taxa the illustrations should be cited under the appropriate taxon. In the
citations, authors' names are given in full but the titles of articles are omitted. Both page
number and figure number (if present) should be given. If the taxon name in the caption to
the illustration differs from the accepted name in the Flora, then it is added in the form 'as
....' after the reference.
Brief annotations to the references may be used sparingly where it is necessary, e.g. where
illustrations are photographs of herbarium specimens not line drawings.
Illustrations: J.M.Black, Fl. S. Austral. 2nd edn 755, fig. 1081, as D. metel L.; W.T.Parsons, Noxious Weeds
Victoria, 256, fig. 238A(3) (1973); B.J.Grieve & W.E.Blackall, How to Know W. Austral. Wildfl. 4: 603
(1975).
Bibliography of maps
Extract from Fl. Australia 29: 193 (1982)
Following the paragraph on illustrations, another paragraph in the same format may be
added, listing 1 to 3 references to distribution maps of the species.
Species descriptions
Descriptions of species are limited to an average of 100 words, maximum 150 words (see
p. 11, Word count). It is strongly recommended that they be kept well within this limit. They
should be readily understandable in relation to the generic description. Species descriptions
within any one genus or subdivision of a genus should be directly comparable as far as
possible. If, for a particular species, an organ described for all other species has not been
seen, this should be stated.
Characters common to all species should be covered in the generic description. This is
especially useful when there is difficulty in keeping to the 100-word limit.
Species descriptions usually contain a number of measurements. These are always given in
metric units, – µm, mm, cm or m. As a rough guide, use cm for sizes over 3 cm, but
consideration should be given to the level of precision intended. For example 1–2 cm is less
precise than 10–20 mm. It is important to be consistent within descriptions and in particular
for individual organs. If nine of ten species in a genus have leaves less than 3 cm long but
the other has leaves 9 cm long then use the same unit of measurement (mm in this case) for
them all. For long, narrow organs it is acceptable to use different units for length and width,
e.g. leaves 2–4 m long, 2–3 cm wide. The form 3–4 cm × 1–2 cm should be avoided in most
circumstances, but may be acceptable where there is no ambiguity in deciding which
measurement refers to length and which to breadth. An example might be 'Fruit usually 3–5
mm long, 1–2 mm wide (rarely up to 7 × 4 mm)'. If this form of expression is used, then the
multiplication sign (×) rather than the letter (x) should be used.
Description of leaves can be particularly complex. The following general order and
punctuation should be followed (although not all points will be needed in all taxa):
Arrangement, deciduous/nondeciduous; overall shape (compound leaves), overall size
(compound leaves), simple/compound type, petiolate/sessile; stipules; petiole shape, petiole
size; lamina shape, lamina size, base, margins, tip, midrib, secondary venation, indumentum;
leaflet characteristics in same order as lamina. In very simple leaf descriptions, to avoid
ambiguity, the lengths of the lamina and petiole should be described separately.