These instructions are applicable especially to descriptions of new taxa; neglecting them will cause considerable delays in the editorial process. General instructions concerning aspects other than Latin descriptions and citation of type material apply to all taxonomic papers.You may also consult a recent issue of our journal for examples.

1. Introduction or background (can be short for simple descriptions of new species).
2. Name of taxon + authors (figure numbers in parentheses).
3. Latin description (as concise as possible).
4. Citation of type specimen(s).
5. Etymology (optional, not necessary if obvious).
6. English description.
7. Observations and discussion.
8. Additional specimens examined (paratypes).

Items 2–8 should be repeated in the same order if more than one taxon of the same level is described.

The following elements should always be italicised:

1. Scientific names at genus level and below.
2. In author citations, ex and in.
3. Latin words, such as sensu, pro parte, non, etc.
4. Entire Latin description.
5. In specimen citations, collector's name and collecting number (see examples below).

Common abbreviations

Genus novum: gen. nov.
Species nova: sp. nova
Combinatio nova: comb. nova
Nomen novum: nom. nov.
Synonymum novum: syn. nov.
Sine numero: s.n. (in specimen citations)
Sensu lato: s. lato Sensu stricto: s. stricto

Author citations

Abbreviations should follow R. K. Brummit & C. E. Powell: The Authors of Plant Names. Royal Bot. Gardens, Kew, 1992. Also available at http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/data/authors.html
Author citations should only be used when necessary for historical, nomenclatural or taxonomic reasons, and then it should only be used on the first mentioning of the name in the body of the text (do not use author citations in the title of the article or in figure legends).

Citation of type specimens

Citations should be as complete as possible.

Example:

Type: China. Yunnan Province, Diqing Prefecture, Zhongdian County, forested ridge above Na Pa Hai, N of Zhongdian, 27°55'N, 99°34'E, 3920 m, steep mossy Abies / Rhododendron forest, on rotten Abies log, 12.VI.1993 D. G. Long 24249 (holotype E; isotypes H, JE, KUN).

Citation of voucher specimens (and paratypes)

Exact collecting dates should be included only when the specimens have no unique collecting numbers. Geographical coordinates are generally not necessary.

Examples:

Selected specimens examined (paratypes). Malaysia. Sabah, Distr. Kota Belud, Kinabalu Park, S slope of Mt. Kinabalu, along summit trail, 2900 m, on rotten wood, 1992 H. Sipman & B. Tan 31026 (B). Papua New Guinea. Morobe Province, Wau area, summit of Mt. Kaindi, N slope, 2380 m, on rock, 1992 H. Sipman 15739b (B, U).

Example of nomenclatural section exactly as it should appear in manuscript

Pinnatella makinoi (Broth.) Broth.
Nat. Pflanzenfam. 1(3): 858. 1906. --- Porotrichum makinoi Broth., Hedwigia 38: 227. 1899. --- Lectotype (designated here): Japan. Shikoku, Kochi Prefecture, Tosa, 15.VI.1887 Makino 301 (H-BR!; isolectotypes H-BR!, S).
Pinnatella luzonensis Broth., Philippine J. Sci. C 8: 81. 1913, syn. nov. --- Type: Philippines. Luzon, Bangued, above 1500 m, on limestone, V.1911 Merrill 7880 (holotype H-BR!; isotypes BM!, FH, GRO, NY!).
Pinnatella formosana Okam., J. College Sci. Tokyo Imp. Univ. 36(7): 45. 1916 ("Pinnatera" orth. err.). --- Type: Taiwan. Prov. Sinchiku-cho, Senseki, 1.XII.1912 Sasaoka s.n. (holotype NICH!). --- Synonymized by Noguchi (1950).

Notes: Do not use '=' or a symbol of equivalence (three horisontal lines) to indicate taxonomic or nomenclatural synonyms.
Exclamation mark (!) after herbarium acronym indicates that the author has seen that Type specimen. Lack of exclamation mark means the specimen was not seen.

Organisation of identification keys (always use this format):

1. Leaves acute, glossy, abaxial surface hairy............... 2.
1. Leaves obtuse, dull, abaxial surface not hairy........... 3.
2. Tubers lacking; corolla cream-coloured .................... Species XX
2. Tubers present; corolla light violet ............................ 4.
3. Calyx lobes with serrate margins .............................. Species YY
3. Calyx lobes with entire margins ................................ Species XY
4. etc. .....