2010-6-7
General Guidelines for Flora of Pan-Himalayas
1. The Himalayas and adjacent regions (Pan-Himalayas) form a natural
phytogeographical unit, from the Wakhan Corridor and northeastern Hindu Kush
eastwards to the Hengduan Mountains via Karakorum and the Himalayas. This
region covers part or whole of the following seven nations, northeastern corner of
Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, northern Myanmar,
and southwest China (S Xizang, SE Qinghai, SE Gansu, W Sichuan and NW
Yunnan) (map)
2. Flora of Pan-Himalayas will be published in English in two editions:
printed and online. It treats all the native and naturalized vascular plants of this
region.
3. The Flora will be published in 50 volumes with ca. 80 books, with the large
families divided into two to five parts. Publication schedule will be based on the
availability of manuscripts. The classification systems used in this Flora should
reflect current understanding of phylogenetic relationships of the plant groups. The
APG III system will be adopted for angiosperms, and up to date phylogenetic
systems of gymnosperms, ferns and lycophytes are also to be reflected in treating
these groups.
4. Natural and rational delimitation of species is a critical task of taxonomy,
and is the most important criterion for judging the scientific standard of a Flora.
Population concepts should be employed in taxonomy; character analysis should be
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considered as the basis for a rational taxonomic treatment; populational
observations, population sampling and statistic analysis should be carried out when
possible to detect variation of characters and evaluate the taxonomic significance of
characters for delimiting species. Herbarium specimens in the following herbaria
must be all examined and identified: PE, KUN, K, BM, E, CDBI, and SZ. The
authors are encouraged to visit the herbaria of CAL, CAS, DD, KATH, MICH, TI,
A, B, P, W, and HNWP. Field observations and collections are highly encouraged.
5. Delimitation of closely related species should be based on discontinuous
(including statistically discontinuous) variations of at least two correlated
characters. As to apomicts (such as Taraxacum spp., Sorbus spp.) and vegetatively
reproducing plants, “macrospecies” should be adopted instead of “microspecies”.
6. Only subspecies are to be adopted in infraspecific classification, varieties in
special cases. Subspecies are geographical races and horizontally or vertically
vicarious; while varieties are of prominent ecotypes. Genotype variants within and
between populations should not be recognized as different taxa. The description of
species should cover all its elements. Variations which do not merit taxonomic
recognition may be noted when the species is described.
7. The subdivision of families and genera should be concise, and may not be
necessary for small families and genera. Infrafamilial systems should reflect the
current understanding of phylogenetic relationships, especially those generated
from solid molecular studies.
8. The concept of genus should reflect the current understanding of
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phylogenies. The generic concept strongly supported by both molecular and
morphological evidence should be adopted, but those with weak support in
molecular analysis and have no sound morphological evidence should not be
adopted, and a conservative attitude should be kept for less known groups.
9. Identification key is one of the most important results of classification, and
the best reflection of its usefulness. Authors should construct a key based on
examination of all relevant specimens. Keys should not be based on a single
character, and should avoid vague words such as “relatively large” vs. “relatively
small”, “longer” vs. “shorter”. It is better to use those easily visible characters in
keys. Dichotomous indented keys are to be used in this Flora as those in “Flora of
China”.
10. Description of species should be concise with emphasis on diagnostic
characters, and should include habitats, geographical distribution, chromosome
numbers, pheonology, and other biological features, as well as reliable economic
uses and conservation information.
11. Literature citation for accepted names and the basionym must be provided.
Important references, such as monographs and floras, should be cited but not more
than five.
12. Type information and herbaria holding the types should be indicated after
the literature citation of names; designation of types can be done in this Flora when
it is necessary.
13. Vouchers are to be cited to record geographical distribution for each
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species/subspecies/variety. Only one representative specimen is needed for each
distribution unit (county in China, district in the other countries); and for the widely
distributed taxa, a larger distribution unit will be used.
14. New taxa, new combinations, and new names should be published in
botanical journals prior to their adoption in the Flora.
15. Sterile hybrids, and those hybrids not forming populations are to be briefly
stated after the descriptions of their parents. Cultivated plants may be indicated at
the end of the treatment of the genus, but not included in the key.
16. All genera, and at least one third of species, should be illustrated with line
drawings. The illustrations can be drawn from herbarium specimens selected by the
authors, or taken from publications with permission. Relatively high quality of the
drawings is required in the present Flora. Diagnostic characters should be
delineated and two or three species may be placed on one plate.
17. The web edition will be online before the corresponding printed edition.
Color photographs, distribution maps and other sources of information are only
included in the web edition.
18. The physical geography, history of studies on vascular plants from this
region, phytogeography and floristic analysis, biodiversity conservation, general
references, and key to families are to be included in the first (introductive) volume,
while a comprehensive index will be published in the last volume.
19. A detailed guideline and an example for the Flora compilation will be
provided by the editorial committee.
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