You are here:
ASPT Publications / Systematic Botany / Systematic Botany
Members of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists are encouraged to submit manuscripts pertinent to taxonomic botany and closely related disciplines for publication in Systematic Botany. Acceptance of papers for publication depends on merit as judged by each of two or more referees. Membership in ASPT is required for at least one author from date of manuscript submission through to publication. Not a member? Join ASPT here. Members of ASPT are not assessed page charges; however, members are strongly encouraged to contribute to the cost of these pages. Authors are assessed charges for alterations made after type has been set. Authors should acknowledge this policy and the availability of funds when the manuscript is submitted to the editor.
Papers longer than 50 printed pages should be sent to Editor-in-Chief of Systematic Botany Monographs.
Authors should meticulously follow directions in the Checklist for Preparation of Manuscripts and Illustrations. Manuscripts not so prepared may be returned for revision prior to review. Aspects not covered by the checklist should follow examples in recent issues. Double space all manuscripts throughout. Include author’s name and page number in upper right corner of every sheet. For review copy, keep manuscript file size down by using jpeg format and reduced pixel density for figures (keep good quality figure files for later submission of final revised manuscript). If possible, keep files under 3 MB.
Descriptions of new taxa (species and below) should include the following: 1) an illustration (line drawing) 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 its distinctiveness. Authors are encouraged to include information on conservation status, if available.
Manuscripts should be sent as email attachments to systbot@gmail.com. All parts of the manuscript, including figures, must be included in one single file. Microsoft Word format is preferred. The covering email should include any special instructions and any address change during the next several months, and phone and fax number and email address for the corresponding author. Authors are welcome to include names, addresses, and email addresses of possible objective reviewers. We will give serious consideration to authors' recommendations for reviewers, but we do not guarantee to follow them. If the manuscript includes a phylogenetic analysis, it must include the information for the reviewers to access the aligned cladistic data matrix - either a TreeBASE SN number and login information (submitting author's full name and PIN), or a copy of the Nexus file(s).
Final, publication-quality figures should be tiff files with a resolution of 1200 ppi (473 pixels per cm) or better (line drawings) or 350 ppi (138 pixels per cm) or better (continuous tone). Figures can be full page width (7 inches = 178 mm wide) or single column width (3.375 inches = 86 mm wide), and no more than 9.5 inches (241 mm) high. Please size your image and calculate your resolution for these dimensions. Color illustrations may be published, but authors will be charged extra to cover the cost of publishing them. Authors are encouraged to submit an illustration to be considered for the front cover of the journal. Include proposed illustration with revised manuscript.
Proofs and reprint order forms are sent to authors via email as attached PDF files. Authors send corrected proofs to Managing Editor and reprint orders to printer. Authors should make only necessary changes in proof; authors must pay for alterations made after type has been set.