- Author's Checklist -
A Covering Letter is to be made upon submission, sending a revision or resubmission.
- The name of the file Covering Letter consists of the first author’s surname followed by ‘_cover’ (e.g. Janssens_cover.doc).
- The covering letter states that the submission is not under consideration or published elsewhere, and that all authors are aware of the submission.
- The Covering Letter is formatted in MS Word (file type DOC) or in Rich Text Format (file type RTF). Windows Vista DOCX format files are converted into RTF files.
- The letter includes contact details of the corresponding author, the title and authorship of the paper, and states if the paper is a first submission, revision or a resubmission. The manuscript reference number is given if the paper is a revision or resubmission.
- If the paper is a first submission, two to four possible reviewers are listed with contact details (with e-mail addresses).
- If the paper is a revised or resubmitted manuscript, the letter explains what changes have been made to the manuscript and where changes requested by the Editor and referees have not been carried out.
- Manuscript Text -
- The name of the Text File consists of the first author’s surname followed by ‘_text’ (e.g. Janssens_text.doc).
- The Text File is formatted in MS Word (file type DOC) or in Rich Text Format (file type RTF). Windows Vista DOCX format files are converted into RTF files.
- Text is typed using size 12 Times New Roman, single-spaced throughout and with a 25 mm margin. All pages are numbered sequentially. Each line of the text is numbered throughout the document using the line numbering from Page Setup.
- The Text File includes figure captions (at the end of the manuscript) but excludes tables and figures – these should be submitted separately (see below).
- The first page of the Text File contains:
- A running title of not more than 75 characters, including spaces.
- The full title which is informative and concise. Nomenclatural authorities are omitted. A higher rank (family, order…) is indicated if the title includes generic or specific names.
- The full names of all authors: for papers with more than one author, the corresponding author’s name is followed by a superscript asterisk*. For papers with authors from more than one institute: each name is followed by an identifying superscript number (1, 2, 3 etc.) associated with the appropriate institutional address to be entered further down the page.
- The institutional address(es) of each author; each address is preceded by the relevant superscript number where appropriate. The format of the address follows the manuscript sample.
- E-mail address of the corresponding author.
- The second page of the Text File contains:
- A structured Abstract not exceeding 300 words made up with headings (e.g. Background and aims / Methods / Key results / Conclusions)
- A list of maximum ten Key words including key words from the title.
- For articles in French, an English translation of Title, Abstract and Key words.
- The body of the paper is well structured (preferred structure: Introduction, Material and methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments and References).
- Results are presented in a concise way and data are not repeated in both graphical and tabular form.
- The Discussion section avoids extensive repetition of the Results.
- All tables and figures are cited in the text. Use “Figure” only to start a sentence; otherwise, “fig.” or “figs” (e.g. fig. 1, figs 2 & 3, figs 36--45).
- No more than three levels of headings are used: Main headings are in regular CAPITAL letters and on one line (e.g. MATERIALS AND METHODS). Second level headings are Bold, and aligned to the left (e.g. Molecular analyses). Third level headings are Bold, followed by two hyphens (--) and immediately followed by the text (e.g. Morphological characters --).
- Abbreviations are used for units of measurement, molecular terminology (e.g. bp, SDS), common statistical terms (e.g. ANOVA, t-test and r2), names of chemicals (e.g. ATP, Mes, Hepes, NaCl, O2), and procedures (e.g. PCR, PAGE, RFLP). Other abbreviations are spelled out at first mention and all terms are written out in full when used to start a sentence. SI-units are used throughout the manuscript. Abbreviations of units should not be followed by a period. Spaces are left between numerals followed by a unit.
- Names of plants are written out in full (Genus, species) in the abstract and again in the main text for every organism at first mention (but the genus is only needed for the first species in a list within the same genus, e.g. Lolium annuum, L. arenarium. Only names at genus level and below are put in italics. The author (e.g. L., Benth., H.P.Linder) is given at first mention of the name or (preferably) the authors are provided elsewhere in the paper in a table or appendix, or by reference to a standard work. Authors follow the list in IPNI (www.ipni.org), without using a space after initials.
- Underlining is only used to indicate the major organs in a plant description in a taxonomic treatment.
- For Specialized equipment mentioned in Materials and methods details of the model and manufacturer are given.
- Round numbers that require one word (e.g. up to sixteen, twenty, thirty, thousand…) are written out unless they are measurements. All other numbers are in figures except at the beginning of a sentence. Dates are in the form of 10 Jan. 1999.
- Novel sequences for proteins or nucleotides are deposited with one of the principal databases (e.g. EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database, GenBank), and accession numbers are included in the paper.
- Sequence matrices are preferably provided as an electronic appendage; this is obligatory when alignment information is critical to the message of the paper.
- Gene abbreviations are in italics.
- References appear as follows in the text: Dupont (1978: 487) or (Dupont & Dupont 1978), or when there are more than two authors (Dupont et al. 1978). In cases where more than one reference is cited, references are listed in chronological order and separated by commas (Cremer 1977, Dupont 1978, Dupont & Dupont 1979). Reference to work in press is only used when the paper has been accepted for publication in a named journal, otherwise the terms ‘unpubl. res.’, giving the initials and location of the person concerned is given (e.g. S. Black, University of Oxford, U.K., unpubl. res.) or ‘pers. comm.’ (e.g. T. White, Universiteit Leiden, the Netherlands, pers. comm.).
- The References section is organized as follows:
- All references cited in text (also when exclusively used in the taxon bibliographies in a taxonomic treatment) are provided in the References section and vice versa.
- The references are arranged alphabetically based on the last name of the first or sole author. Where the same sole author or same first author has two or more papers listed, these papers are grouped chronologically. Where such an author has more than one paper in the same year, these are ordered with single authored papers first followed by two-author papers (ordered first alphabetically based on the second author's surname, then by year), and then any three-or-more-author papers (in year order only). Italicized letters ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’, etc., are added to the date of papers with the same authorship and year.
- References conform to one of the following styles according to the type of publication:
- Printed article:
- Article only available on-line with doi
- Thesis:
- Chapter in book:
- Book:
- Book in a series:
- Website citation:
- The Literature cited section is followed by the Figure captions, starting at a new page. The legends are typed in paragraph form. Figures composed of several smaller figures are treated as one figure and the subfigures are labeled with capital letters (A, B, C, D, …). Scientific names in captions are not followed by authors. The captions adhere to the following examples:
- Figure 5 -- Location of Sengwa Wildlife Research Area and a simplified vegetation map showing patches (A--H) of miombo. Simplified after Dupont (1997).
- Figure 12 -- Pollen of Malagasy Imaginaria species, characterized by flowers with both anthers and style/stigma long exserted from the corolla tube: A, B, E, Imaginaria alba; C, F--H, Imaginaria rubra; D, Imaginaria nigrescens; I, Imaginaria aurantiaca. A--C, polar view; D, E, mesocolpia; F, ectoaperture; G, H-shaped endoaperture; H, I, pollen grain walls. A, B, E, DuPuy et al. 802; C, F--H, Malcomber et al. 1180; D, Humbert 22706; I, Richard s.n.
- Figure 10 -- Number of species < 1 cm diameter at ground level per 4 m2 in the five and ten 2 m x 2 m plots in the centre zone and in the five plots and 26 plots in the edge zone on the 1922 and 1959 lava flow respectively, as sampled in 1995 (mean and SE).
- Figure 14 -- Carbon concentrations (mg.g-1) during full leaf expansion. Means followed by the same letter not significantly different at the 0.05 level using Tukey’s HSD test. F = 1.198 NS. A, Fagus orientalis; B, Rhododendrum luteum; C, Hypericum androsaemum; D, Vaccinium arctostaphylos; E, Daphne pontica.
Felsenstein J. (1985) Confidence limits on phylogenies: An approach using the bootstrap. Evolution 39: 783--791.
Manen J.F., Natali A., Ehrendorfer F. (1994) Phylogeny of Rubiaceae–Rubieae inferred from the sequence of a cpDNA intergene region. Plant Systematics and Evolution 190: 195--211.
Sonké B., Djuikouo K. M.-N., Robbrecht E. (2008) Calycosiphonia pentamera sp. nov. (afrotropical Rubiaceae) from the ‘Lower Guinea’ area. Nordic Journal of Botany. doi:10.1111/j.0107-055X.2007.00141.x
Ntore S. (2004) Contribution à la connaissance systématique du genre afrotropical Pauridiantha (Rubiaceae). PhD thesis, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Barrett S.C.H., Pannell J.R. (1999) Metapopulation dynamics and mating-system evolution in plants. In: Hollingworth P.M., Bateman R.M., Gornall R.J. (eds), Molecular systematics and plant evolution: 74--100. London, Taylor & Francis.
Weberling F. (1992) Morphology of flowers and inflorescences. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Seidenfaden G. (1992) The Orchids of Indochina. Opera Botanica 114.
Quinion M.B. (1998) Citing online sources: advice on online citation formats [online]. Available from www.worldwidewords.org/articles/citation.htm [accessed 20 Oct. 2005].
- Checklist for Taxonomic Treatments -
Nomenclature follows the rules of the last edition of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.
- For nomenclatural matters (i.e., synonymy, typification) one paragraph per homotypic basionym is used. Heterotypic basionyms are in separate paragraphs. Within a paragraph, names are separated by a double hyphen
- Authors follow the list in IPNI (www.ipni.org), without using a space after the initial.
- References cited in taxonomic treatments are included in Literature cited. Citation is as follows:
Mitriostigma barteri Hook.f. ex Hiern (Hiern 1877: 111); Hutchinson & Dalziel (1931: 72); Hepper (1963: 130); Sonké et al. (2009: 311). -- Randia barteri (Hook.f. ex Hiern) K.Schum. (Schumann 1891: 75). -- Type (designation Sonké & al., op. cit.): Equatorial Guinea, Bioko, Mann 234 (K 419877, lecto-; K, P, isolecto-).
- Index Herbarorium acronyms are used for designations of herbaria.
- Specimen citations use the following format:
Representative specimens examined -- Gabon: Woleu-Ntem, Crystal Mountains, 1775 m on transect C, Nguema Miyono 1365 (WAG); Woleu-Ntem, 1 km NNW of Tchimbélé, on bank of Bingiligwen river, Wieringa 905 (LBV, WAG); S of Tchimbélé dam, Dessein et al. 1688 (BR, LBV); Chutes de Kinguélé, Hallé & Villiers 4444 (P) & 4646 (P); 6 km S Assok, Hallé & Villiers 4702 (P) & 4722 (BR, P).
Equatorial Guinea: de Sendje à Ongamnsok, Lejoly 01/41 (BRLU) &01/51(BRLU); 8 km N de Mitong, Sonké & Esono 3714 (BR); Región Continental, Obama 321 (WAG).
- Descriptions of new taxa include the following: (1) an illustration clearly showing the diagnostic characters, (2) a comparison with related (or sympatric, or similar) taxa in a dichotomous key or table, and (3) a discussion of the characteristics, ecology, geography, or reproductive biology, etc. that are the basis for their distinctiveness. New Taxa are presented as follows:
- New combinations include the basionym with a full and direct reference to its author and place of valid publication. This reference is also repeated in the references section:
Spermacoce hockii (De Wild.) Dessein, comb. nov. Borreria hockii De Wild., Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 11: 511. 1913 (De Wildeman 1913b). -- Type: R.D.Congo: Katanga, Biano, Hock s.n. (holotype: BR).
- New synonyms are indicated in bold as synon. nov. at the end of the citation for the synonym.
- Illegitimate and invalid names are indicated in bold as nom. illegit. and nom. invalid. respectively at the end of the citation for the name.
- Captions in taxonomic papers adhere to the following examples:
Colletoecema magna Sonké & Dessein, sp. nov.
Affinis Colletoecemae dewevrei sed ab illa differt foliorum majoribus laminis, nervorum secundariorum numero utrinque 7--10 (versus 4--6 in C. dewevrei), floribus sessilibus, corolla intus pubescenti super antheras (vs. corolla intus pubescenti infra antheras in C. dewevrei) atque fructibus multo majoribus.
Type: Cameroon, Ngovayang massif, near Bidjouka, 03°09’N 10°25’E, 526 m, 6 Jan. 2008, Dessein & Sonké 1608 (holotype: BR; isotypes: BR, K, MO, P, WAG, YA).
Figure 5 -- Pauridiantha paucinervis: A, flowering branch; B, detail of stipule; C, transverse section of ovary. From Dupont 759 (BR).
Figure 8 -- A-B, Acalypha guineensis: A, flowering branch; B, detail of leaf-blade. C, Acalypha cupricola: C, flowering branch. A, B from White 975 (BR); C from Black 5779 (WAG).
- Checklist for Tables -
- Each table is in a separate file.
- The name of each Table File consists of the first author’s last name followed by ‘table_1’, ‘table_2’,… (e.g. Janssens_table_3.doc).
- Each table has a complete caption at the top and is Table 1, Table 2 etc. according to the order in which they are first mentioned in the text. The caption of a table should be divided into two parts: a concise descriptive headline and an explanatory part.
- Table text is typed using size 10 Times New Roman. Capitals are avoided within table cells (except for e.g. abbreviations)
- Checklist for Figures -
- All images (e.g. line diagrams, drawings, maps, graphs, photographs, plates) are treated as ‘Figures’.
- Each figure is in a separate file.
- The name of each Figure File consists of the first author’s last name followed by ‘fig_1’, ‘fig_2’,… (e.g. Janssens_fig_3).
- Electron and light micrographs have scale bars.
- Line diagrams are black and white. Use of color in line diagrams is acceptable where this enhances clarity significantly.
- Size of the picture fits either single (84 mm wide) or double (up to 173 mm wide) column reproduction.
- All images are submitted at approximately the physical size they would appear in the Journal (this reduces file size).
- Related graphics are grouped into a single figure whenever possible. Each part of a grouped figure is labeled A, B, C, etc. and not treated as separate figures.
- Arial font is used to label figures. Abbreviations to indicate particular details are in lower case.
- Line drawings and graphs are supplied as simple black and white TIFF or high quality JPG files of 900 dpi.
- Greyscale images (e.g. photographs) are supplied as TIFF or high quality JPG files at 450 dpi.
- Colour images are used where they enhance significantly the clarity of the scientific information. They are of the same quality as the greyscale images (see above).
- Checklist for Appendices -
- Additional information not necessary for the basic understanding of the paper is supplied as electronic appendages.
- Each electronic appendage is in a separate file.
- The name of each Appendix File consists of the first author’s surname followed by ‘appendix_1’, ‘appendix_2’,… (e.g. Janssens_appendix_3.pdf).
- The layout of the electronic appendages is publication-ready.
Print ISSN: 2032-3913; Online ISSN: 2032-3921 © National Botanic Garden of Belgium and Royal Botanical Society of Belgium.