Academics

• Introduction
• Submission
• Herbaria to Consult
• Standard Treatment Format
• Descriptive Format
• Keys
• References
• Illustrations
• Glossary 

INTRODUCTION Back to top

     The San Juan Basin historically has been poorly collected and documented for all biological organisms, especially vascular plants.  The situation remains thus today.  Therefore, this need has been recognized and is believed to be critical for completion of a flora for the Four Corners region.  It is especially important as population, recreational, oil and mining use has increased dramatically in recent years.  The identification of over 50 rare, threatened and endangered species, many of which are endemic, has intensified the urgency of this project.  Many new taxa have also been discovered during recent collecting years.  
     The editors of the project include: Supervising Editor Ken Heil, Co-Editors Steve O'Kane (University of Northern Iowa) and Linda Reeves  (San Juan College) as well as Associate Editor Arnold Clifford.  San Juan College and Missouri Botanical Garden have pledged to promote, coordinate and edit the Flora by the year 2006.   This insures that the hard work by contributors will result in eventual publication.
     The Flora will be a single field-portable volume similar in size to A Flora of Utah, 7"X 10"(possibly larger) and approximately 1000-1200 pages in length.  A unique feature of the flora will be a center section of approximately 50 watercolor/pencil drawings by renowned botanical artist, Carolyn Crawford who has won numerous awards for her work and has illustrated many publications, including Rare Plants of Colorado.  Up to 500 black and white line drawings by artist/botanist Linda Reeves who has produced many botanical/biological drawings for publication by W.C. Freeman, Brittonia, Taxon, Agave, etc., including papers, books and CD-ROM.  At least one drawing per genus is planned.    Funding for all of these activities is generously provided by San Juan College, The Bolack Foundation, BLM and BHP Minerals.
     An updated checklist of known or suspected vascular plants is available for your information.  Please consult this list for division, family sequence and designations.
     These guidelines generally follow those for the new Vascular Plants of Arizona (in preparation) and, to a lesser extent, Rocky Mountain Flora.  We thank the editors of these floras for allowing us to use those clear and straightforward guidelines.

SUBMISSION Back to top

   Two hardcopies of the manuscript should be submitted, double spaced.  A third copy should also be eventually submitted electronically.  We will edit the first draft hardcopy, return it to you for changes, whereupon you should submit electronically.  We will then make any further changes from the electronic submission, again returning a hardcopy to you for further changes and submission.  Boldface will be indicated by using boldface format, italics by italics.  Authors will use New Times Roman font (this font), 10 pt..  All manuscripts should be sent to: Ken Heil or Linda Reeves, Herbarium, San Juan College, 4601 College Boulevard, Farmington, New Mexico 87402.

   In order to produce an exceptionally high quality work which adequately surveys and evaluates plants in the San Juan River drainage, it is necessary that contributors visit or order plants from the following institutions which have significant collections in your group from the study area.  Please call ahead, especially if noted.  (Not all listed herbaria will have significant collections in all taxa.)

ARIZONA

CALIFORNIA:

COLORADO

UTAH

DESCRIPTIVE FORMAT Back to top

   Keys and descriptions will be in Times New Roman, 10 pt., double spaced for first draft editing.
    Within the groups “Ferns and Fern Allies”, “Gymnosperms” and “Angiosperms” taxa will be arranged alphabetically by family, genus, species, subspecies and variety. 
     A sample treatment provided by Steve O’Kane is included in authors’ packets for your reference.  Please note that this is approximately how a treatment will appear in the published flora.  Please consult the following guidelines for initial submission instructions.  
     Descriptions will emphasize diagnostic characters, especially those important to reasonably gain an impression of the taxon.   Do not repeat a trait if it is cited and diagnostic for a higher taxon, unless a special, and previously unspecified variation exists.
     Names of taxa will be written in full form, abbreviations utilized only in cases of multiple citations of the same taxon.  Authors' names will be written in full.  Do not use abbreviations except in rare cases of full multiple citations.  Boldface will be used only for taxa given full descriptive treatment.  In this case use standard abbreviations from: Authors of Plant Names (R.K. Brummit and C.E. Powell, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens, 1992,732 pgs., Available from Balogh Books through their website: www.balogh.com. or  by phone (217) 355-9331. Ask for Scott or Pam.  Price is $48.00 + about $5.00 shipping.  Also useful and also by Brummit and published by Kew, RBC is Vascular Plant Families and Genera, 1992, 804 pgs.  Cost is also $48.00 + about $5.00 shipping  They take purchase orders.  Thanks to Bee Beck (RSABG) for this info.
     Synonyms, minor variants, and other scientific names, such as those of pollinators or symbionts mentioned in the text will be in italics.
     The metric system will be used for measurement of plant parts.  Elevations will be expressed in meters followed by the English equivalent in parentheses, using the apostrophe (tick mark) to designate feet.  Round measurements to the nearest 100. and to the nearest 50 m.
     Do not abbreviate, except for measurements, counties, states, other geographical locations, months, chromosome numbers and as mentioned above regarding genus and authors' names in multiple citations.  Do not use symbols except for "=" for chromosome number.
     Use parallel construction in descriptions of related taxa at all levels.  Characters in descriptions will follow the sequence below, assuming applicability to the taxon.  Specialized groups may have additional or alternate categories:

          General characteristics, including height
          Underground parts
          STEMS
          LEAVES 
          INFL (inflorescence)
          FLOWER (proceeding from general characteristics to, for example: bracts,   
             sepals, petals, male reproductive parts and pollen, female     
             reproductive parts in sequence)
          FRUIT, cone, or sporangia, etc.
          SEED or spores or other propagules
          Chromosome Number (if known)
          (Characters in capitals will most often initiate a sentence)

     Begin a character phrase with a word in full capitals and end with a period.  Do not use complete sentences.  Commas and semicolons will separate entries within major character phrases. The aim here is to direct the reader to a particular set of characters in which he or she may have particular interest. 

Example of correct usage:

"FLOWER actinomorphic, upright, 3-4mm diameter; sepals five or six, green, hirsute; petals five, white to pink, prominently veined; stamens five to seven, 5-7mm long, white; stigma two-lobed, hirsute; style 5-7mm long; ovary superior, globose, carpels four"
     Note that semi-colons separate substructures, commas separate descriptive characters of structures and substructures.   Always begin a phrase with the general structure being described.
     Be consistent in the information provided, especially for parallel taxa.  Be uniform in the order of information presentation sequence.

The following are suggested lengths of descriptions:

Taxon                                       Suggested number of lines

Family                                                              12
Genus                                                              12
Species                                                            12
Infraspecific                                                       8

FAMILY

    The family name will be centered in bold upper case letters, followed by the classical name (if applicable) in plain upper case letters, followed by the common family name in plain upper case letters.
     Except for unusual recent changes in data, interpretation and strongly supported arguments by established and recognized experts, those families recognized by Cronquist (1981) will be used.   This convention is ultimately up to the family author or family editor.  In general, we will take a conservative view of taxa unless strong and obvious arguments are made for changes.  These arguments must take the form of measurable and discrete differences from related taxa.  Family names will all end in "aceae".  Classical family names (i.e. Compositae, Gramineae, etc.) will be included and referenced to the accepted modern family name (Asteraceae, Poaceae, etc.).  Please include alternate family names in parentheses after the modern name, if applicable.  The aim here is to aid the naïve worker or those referencing historical works.
     All families occurring in our area will be described, but the descriptions will emphasize diagnostic characters essential for recognition and differentiation of the family.  World-wide variation should briefly be included in order to give a view of range of characters.  It is highly likely that new distributions of taxa will be discovered for our area in the future.  Some of these will be weeds of exotic origins, so some worldwide characters will be helpful.  Qualifying words such as "in ours", "mostly" and "usually" may be utilized.  The description will be followed by a general statement of family size, distribution, examples of cultivated members, weedy members and carefully selected references.

GENUS

     The generic name will be centered in boldface upper (first letter) and lower case type followed by the author and common name(s).  Common names have been shown in our experience to aid identification, especially from information provided by naive sources.  Authors should be careful to search the botanical and semi-popular literature for common and alternate common names, including Navajo, Apache and Spanish names, if applicable and known, as these will aid future studies in distribution and ethnobotany.  Include the most often cited English common names, especially those used in the Southwest and Rocky Mountain areas.  Often this type of information is sought by readers but not supplied by floras.
     All area genera will be described and will be distinguished on gross morphological characters.  Again, conservative treatments will be utilized and deviations will be well supported by work from established experts.  The description should reflect worldwide characters, but emphasize those in our area.  Use the phrase "in ours" to denote those characters typical in our flora.  A brief account of size, distribution, examples of cultivated and/or economically valuable members and derivation of the generic name should be included.  Cite only important references.

SPECIES

     All native and naturalized (unaided reproduction and increasing distribution), established species occurring in the San Juan River Drainage (see enclosed map within the Catalog) will be described, including monotypic groups.  
     Include all species well documented and collected for the San Juan River Drainage.  Do not give formal descriptions of species or infraspecific taxa suspected, but for which there are no voucher specimens.  Suspected taxa include those documented with observations or photographs.  Suspected species and their most probable location(s) should be listed at the end of the generic treatment.  Doubtful and excluded species should be included at the end of the generic treatment to account for errors in identification and/or reporting within the San Juan River drainage.  Also include taxa currently under or in need of further study in order to more fully ascertain status in our area.  
     Species descriptions will include the overall range of variation, but indicate what is usual in our area, using the phrase, "in ours".  Specific rank is reserved for taxa that are readily characterized morphologically and show minimal intergradation with other taxa.  Overall, for the purposes of a flora, we hold to the conservative view that the taxon has been accepted by the botanical community for at least a few years.  Exceptions may be made for taxa which are treated traditionally and/or show definite population disjunction and divergence with minimal character differentiation.  
     However, specific divergence must be identifiable at least in the field with readily observable characters.  For example, flower color may indicate a divergent species if it is accompanied by other factors, such as disjunct range, variant fidelitous pollinator, etc. and is readily identifiable in the field. This may be the result of a one gene difference.  On the other hand, species with broadly overlapping ranges and different chromosome numbers, which appear identical in the field and/or herbarium might be treated as the same species.  Any exceptions should be well supported with data (not included in the description, but noted).  Members of complexes that intergrade considerably in morphology could be considered for infraspecific rank, and those that have no consistently diagnostic morphological characters or which may be obscured by ecological considerations will not be treated formally.  In this case, variations may be noted within the species or infraspecies description.
     The species description will begin with the generic name (indented 2 spaces) in upper and lower case bold letters, followed by the specific epithet in lower case bold letters (no capitals) and the author(s) in bold.  Common name(s) should be supplied in plain letters as well as etymology of the epithet.  The description will not generally repeat generic characters.  It will be diagnostic enough so that, in combination with the generic description, a clear and definite mental picture will be developed.  Synonyms (italicized) with authors should be enclosed in brackets and placed at the end of the description.  Synonomy need not be complete, but should be supplied if the name represents a deviation from commonly available western and North American manuals.  After the description and synonomy the following sequence of topics will be included.

      Habitat (San Juan River drainage only)
       Distribution (San Juan River drainage only) by state followed by county or   
           counties

           Use the following abbreviations for states. and counties.  Note that San Juan  
           County occurs in three states.  (COLO, NMEX and UTAH):

                             State       abbreviation        County            abbreviation

                              Arizona        ARIZ              Apache            Apa
                                                                    Coconino          Coc
                                                                    Navajo             Nav

                              Colorado      COLO            Archuleta           Arc
                                                                   Conejos             Con
                                                                   Dolores              Dol
                                                                   Hinsdale             Hin
                                                                   La Plata             LPl
                                                                   Mineral              Min 
                                                                   Montezuma        Mon
                                                                   Rio Grande         RGr
                                                                   San Miguel         SMg
                                                                   San Juan           SJn

                              New Mexico NMEX             McKinley            McK 
                                                                   Rio Arriba           RAr
                                                                   Sandoval           San
                                                                   San Juan           SJn

                              Utah             UTAH            San Juan  (list as UTAH)

       Elevation  San Juan River drainage only;use metric (m), then English equivalents (')
        Flowering time San Juan River drainage only; use abbreviations for months:  
                  Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
        Fruiting time Mature fruits, cones or spores; only if unusual or delayed 
                  (not obligatory)
        Origin  if introduced
        Distribution overall  Do not use abbreviations here, i.e. Colorado, Montana, etc.
        Taxonomic notes
        Economic, ethnobotanical or ecological notes     
                 (such as symbionts, pollinators if known - not    
                  obligatory, but requested if known).

     In general, information on this last topic is desirable for our purposes and often proves most useful and interesting for many workers using floras.  Useful references for our area include: Native American Ethnobotany, by Daniel E. Moerman, 1998, Timber Press (about $80.00); Wild Plants and Native Peoples of the Four Corners by Gale Tierney and William Dunmire, 1997, University of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe (1-800-249-7737) and also by Tierney and Dunmire: Wild Plants of the Pueblo Province, 1994.  Both are paperback, $22.50 plus shipping.  Another paperback reference for Navajo traditional uses is: Nanise' by Vernon O. Mayes and Barbara Bayliss Lacy, Navajo Community College Press, Tsaile, AZ.  Cost is $27.00 plus $6.00 shipping and is available from the Canyon de Chelly National Monument Bookstore, Chinle, AZ (520) 674-5502.  Other ethnobotanical references may be obtained at the Mesa Verde National Park Visitors’ Center or the Chaco Canyon National Historical Park Visitors’ Center.

INFRASPECIFIC TAXA

     We generally recognize no difference in dealing with subspecies and varieties and will generally accept the choice of the contributor.  When in doubt, contributors will use the most traditional form common in most major western references.  Nomenclatural changes will have been published in other books or periodicals before usage in the Flora with sufficient time (at least one year before publication) for comments and/or revisions of taxa and/or combinatorial changes.  Exceptions may be made for quite obvious and well-supported nomenclatural changes, usually at genus or higher taxonomic levels.  Nomenclatural changes will not be made in this flora.  Infraspecific taxa that have no consistently diagnostic characters or possess highly intergrading morphological characters and broadly overlapping ranges should not be treated formally, even if treated historically or used widely.  Mention should be made of an obvious omission in the taxonomic notes section.  Contributors are strongly discouraged from submitting weakly supported or obscure infraspecific designations.  Other designations such as forma, cultivar, etc. will not generally be used, but if significant, will be noted in the taxonomic notes section of the species description.  This information will be most valuable for introduced and established, reproducing, horticultural forms.
     The infraspecific epithet preceded by rank (indented 3 spaces) will be in bold, lower case letters followed by the author.  Do not repeat the species name.  Common names and etymology of the epithet should be supplied.  Provide only enough diagnostic characters to separate the infraspecific taxa, including distribution, elevation, etc.  Arrange infraspecific information in the same style as that used for species.

KEYS Back to top

     Much care should be taken in the preparation of keys as this is generally the most important portion of the flora, especially for neophyte users.  Use of confusing, overlapping, contradictory and multitudinous characters, especially in measurements and indument is generally the source of most dissatisfaction with keys and is discouraged.  Clear dichotomies are the most desirable.
     Key dichotomies must separate on the most obvious morphological level. Contributors should avoid keys based on microscopic or chemical preparation, particularly of vegetative parts.  Exceptions may include species with varying chromosome numbers in addition to other differences, including habitat and/or range.
     All keys will be in parallel form.  Leads will be of parallel construction beginning with the most important diagnostic character.  The number of the first part of a couplet will be followed by a period; the number of the second part of a couplet will be followed by an apostrophe (Basic Latin symbol).  Italicize all scientific names in keys.
     Infraspecific taxa will not be separated in the key to species except where a species keys out more than once due to infraspecific character variation.  A key may be included after the species description if, for instance, two or more varieties or subspecies are recognized.

REFERENCES Back to top

     References should be kept to a minimum.  Usually, they will represent recent revisions, monographs or other recent taxonomic work.  Citation of references will follow the discussion of the taxon to which the reference applies.  Citation style should be consistent with that used in systematic botany.  Abbreviate titles of serial publications according to Botanico-Periodicum-Huntianum, Lawrence, G.H.M. et al. 1991 Hunt Botanical Library, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh.  Available from the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie-Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890.  (412) 268-2434 Cost is $74.25 through your bookstore, shipping included.  Otherwise it is $95.00 plus shipping.

     Contributors will indicate, in order of priority, those genera requiring an illustration.  If no indication is made by January 1, 2004, we will begin illustration of those genera the editors feel require illustration.  We intend to illustrate each genus in black and white if space, funds and time allow.  Also indicate special features (indument, leaf margins, pollen, etc.) which should be emphasized or featured in addition to habit.  Contributors may be asked to submit specimens and photos or slides to facilitate illustrations. 

    The following glossary provides recommended terms suggested for consistent, standard usage in keys and descriptions.  Examine closely these preferred terms and their definitions.  This list is not complete, of course, but it should provide those terms for which there are or have been alternate synonymous terms.  The main objective is to make the description absolutely clear even to persons who are not experts in the taxon.
     Avoid use of obscure or overly specialized terms as much as possible, despite the usage of these terms commonly among investigators within a taxon.  For example, use "lip" instead of "labellum", "stem" or "shoot" instead of "ramicaul".  If specific terminology must be used, it will be defined or illustrated where first used.  An excellent color illustrated glossary may be found in Flowering Plants of the World (Updated Edition, 1993, V.H. Heywood, Editor, Oxford University Press).

LEAF GENERAL SHAPE

CIRCULAR - (= orbicular, round) - Flat and round in outline.  (SPHERICAL - three dimensional equivalent)
CORDATE - Heart-shaped with base rounded and prominently notched; sides tapering to a narrowed apex.
ELLIPTIC - Longer than broad, tapering equally at both ends; widest in the middle.  (ELLIPSOID - same, but three-dimensional.)
LINEAR -Many times longer than wide; margins nearly parallel.
LANCEOLATE - At least 3 times longer than wide, tapering to apex, widest below the middle.
NEEDLE-LIKE -(= acerose, acicular) - As linear, but rigid.
OBCORDATE - As cordate, but attachment at narrowed end and notch at apex.
OBLANCEOLATE - As lanceolate, but tapering to base and widest above the middle.
OBLONG - Longer than broad, margins parallel; ends rounded.
OBOVATE - As ovate, but tapering to base and widest above the middle. (OBOVOID - same, but three dimensional)
OVATE - Less than three times as long as wide, tapering to apex and widest below the middle. (OVOID - same, but three dimensional, egg-shaped)
PELTATE - With stalk attached to lower surface of leaf blade or other structure well inside the margin.
SAGITTATE - Shaped like an arrow, with two backward-directed lobes.
SPATULATE - (= spathulate) - Similar to oblanceolate, but apex broadly rounded, not tapering.
SUBULATE - Long narrow, tapering gradually to a rigid apex; awlshaped.
TENDRIL - Part or all of a stem, leaf or petiole modified to form a thread-like structure, which may coil around objects.
TRIANGULAR - (=deltoid, deltate) - Having the form of an equilateral triangle. (PYRIMIDAL - three dimensional equivalent)

APEX

ACUTE - Forming an angle of less than 90⁰.
ATTENUATE - (=acuminate) - Gradually narrowed and tapering to a point.
APICULATE - With a short, flexible tip.
ARISTATE - With a much elongate, bristle-like tip.
EMARGINATE - Deeply and broadly notched.
MUCRONATE - (= cuspidate) - With a short, abrupt, firm tip.
OBTUSE - Forming an angle of greater than 90⁰.
ROUNDED - Forming a semi-circular shape.
RETUSE - Shallowly notched.
TRUNCATE - Cut off squarely.

BASE

ACUTE -See apex.
ATTENUATE - See apex.
HASTATE - With basal lobes spreading.
OBLIQUE - Asymmetrial; having unequal sides.
OBTUSE - See apex.
ROUNDED - See apex.
SAGITTATE - With basal lobes directed downward.
TRUNCATE - See apex.

MARGIN

CRENATE - With broad, rounded teeth; scalloped.
DENTATE - With pointed teeth facing outward.
DISSECTED - Leaf surface deeply cut into numerous fine divisions.
ENTIRE - Smooth, not toothed, indented or lobed.
EROSE - (= lacerate) - Irregularly indented; appearing gnawed or torn.
INCISED - Irregularly cut with sharp teeth.
LACINIATE - Slashed into numerous narrow lobes.
LOBED - (= indented, parted, divided).  Leaf may be shallowly, deeply, pinnately or palmately lobed (= pinnatifid, palmatifid).
SERRATE - With pointed teeth facing toward apex.
SINUATE - Wavy on margins only, not three - dimensional.
UNDULATE - Wavy, including leaf surface; three - dimensional.

HAIRS AND SURFACE COVERINGS

BASIFIXED - Hairs or scales fixed at the base.
BRANCHED - (includes stellate, forked, dendritic, cruciform)
CANESCENT - (includes cinereous, incanous) - With an overall grayish aspect due to hairs.
CILIATE - With marginal hairs or scales; fringed.
GLABROUS - (includes glabrate) Completely hairless.
GLAUCOUS - (= pruinose) - With a powdery covering.
HIRSUTE - (includes hispid, bristly) - Stiff hairs that are ascending or spreading.
SHORT HIRSUTE - (= hirsutulous, hirtellous, hirtellate, hispidulous)
MEALY - (= farinose) - Covered with meal-like particles or secretions.
METAFIXED - (= dolabriform, malpighiaceous) - Hairs that are attached to a surface at or near their midpoint.
PILOSE - (includes villous, velutinous) - Soft, distinct, straight hairs that are ascending or spreading.
SHORT PILOSE - (= pilosulous, villosulous)
PUBESCENT - (= hairy) - Bearing hairs.
SCABROUS - Rough to the touch.
SCURFY - (= lepidote) Covered with small scales.
SILKY - (= seriaceous) - Soft, distinct, straight hairs that are closely appressed.
STRIGOSE - Stiff hairs that are closely appressed.
SHORT STRIGOSE - (= strigulose, strigillose)
WOOLLY - (includes floccose, tomentose, lanate, pannose) - Soft, dense, commonly matted hairs.
SHORT WOOLLY - (= tomentellous, tomentulose)

LARGER PLANT PROJECTIONS (OTHER THAN TRICHOMES AND SECRETIONS)

PRICKLES - Epidermal outgrowths, easily removable, more substantial than trichomes, as in Rosa.
SPINES - Modified leaf or leaf parts, including stipules, as in Cactaceae.
(GLOCHIDS are small, fine SPINES which often easily detach from the areole such as in Opuntia).
THORNS - Modified, sharp stems, such as in Condalia or Eleagnus

INFLORESCENCE

CATKIN - (= ament) Spike-like, commonly pendulous, inflorescence.  Flowers.often imperfect.
CORYMB - Nearly flat-topped indeterminate inflorescence; lower and outer pedicels longest; simple or compound.
CYME - Determinate inflorescence with central flowers opening first.
COILED CYME - (= helicoid, scorpioid) - A determinate, coiled inflorescence.
HEAD - (= capitulum) - Dense cluster of sessile or subsessile flowers on an expanded peduncle.
PANICLE - (includes thyrse) - Compound or branched raceme.
RACEME - Indeterminate inflorescence bearing several pedicelled solitary flowers along a central axis.
SPIKE - Indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile or subsessile, solitary flowers along a central axis.
UMBEL - Indeterminate inflorescence with pedicels usually of similar length arising from one point, often flat-topped, simple or compound.

FLOWERS

ACTINOMORPHIC- (= regular) - Flowers with series of parts radially symmetrical, all parts in each series alike; based on petals unless otherwise stated.
DIOECIOUS - Pistillate and staminate flowers on separate plants;"of two houses"(see IMPERFECT)
IMPERFECT - (= unisexual) - having either pistil(s) or stamen(s) in one flower (pistillate and staminate), but not both.
IRREGULAR-  Flower parts in series somewhat varied, but not to the extent of zygomorphy, ex: Gladiolus.
MONOECIOUS - Pistillate and staminate flowers on the same plant; "of one house".(see IMPERFECT)
PERFECT - (= bisexual, hermaphrodite) - having both pistil(s) and stamen(s) on the same flower.
ZYGOMORPHIC  - Flowers with series of parts definitely bilaterally symmetrical, not all parts in each series alike; based on petals unless otherwise stated.

FRUITS

ACHENE - (= akene, cypsela) - Small, dry, 1-seeded, indehiscent fruit as in Helianthus.  The ovulary (ovary) wall is usually thin and not fused to the seed layers.
ACCESSORY - Fruit derived from parts other than the ovulary (ovary), often the receptacle as in Fragaria.  Entire fruit, especially endocarp, may include some ovulary structures. 
AGGREGATE - Fruit formed from a cluster of pistils that were distinct in a single flower, as in Fragaria.  Some aggregate fruits may also be accessory fruits.
BERRY - Fleshy, indehiscent fruit with no true stone (pit) or core; usually many seeds, embedded in pulp. (includes pepo and hesperidium) as in Capsicum.
CAPSULE - Dry, dehiscent fruit of more than one carpel as in Cypripedium.
CARYOPSIS - (= grain) - A dry fruit typical of Poaceae, but usually with ovulary (ovary) wall fused to the seed layers.
DRUPE - Stone fruit; usually fleshy and indehiscent with stony endocarp as in Prunus.
FOLLICLE - Dry, 1-carpelled fruit opening along one longitudinal suture as in Asclepias.
LEGUME - ( = pod, lomentum) - Linear fruit with seeds linearly arranged, dry when mature and usually dehiscent on one side, typical of the Fabaceae.
MERICARP - Segment of a schizocarp; commonly, 1/2 of the schizocarp of Apiaceae (Umbelliferae).
MULTIPLE - Fruit formed from closely clustered ovularies (ovaries) of many separate flowers, as in Morus or Ficus.
SAMARA - Dry, indehiscent, winged fruit, as in Acer or Ulmus.  May be schizocarpic as in Acer.
SCHIZOCARP - Dry fruit splitting into one or few-seeded segments, as in many Apiaceae (Umbelliferae).
SILICULE - (= silicula) - As SILIQUE, but not as linear
SILIQUE(= siliqua)- Linear, dry fruit splitting on two sides with seeds attached to a central, persistent partition as in Brassicaceae.

We plan to have a glossary of terms either on the inside front cover or in the first few pages of the text.  If you have any suggestions  or complaints, please call, write or e-mail us.  Thanks to Bruce Parfitt and Steve O'Kane for many such suggestions.

STANDARD TREATMENT FORMAT FOR FLORA OF THE FOUR CORNERS REGION  Back to top

GENERAL STANDARDS:

Word processing software used: Microsoft Word

Size of book:  11”x  8 ¾” (similar to Jepson Manual: The Higher Plants of California )

Page size:  8 1/4” x 10 3/4”

Font: Times New Roman, also bold and italicized, 10 pt.

Paragraph: Fully justified ( left and right )

Margins: ¾” to header and page number
                 ¾” lower
                 7/8” right
                 1 ¼” left

Keys and family/genus descriptions cover entire text width (not two columns)

Species and lower descriptions in two columns:  3” wide each, 2/5” space between columns

FAMILY TREATMENT FORMAT (see Rubiaceae and Cleomaceae examples on the website)  All family treatments will have a family description.

Title (centered): Family name in bold font, caps; authority in regular font, (consult Brummit and Powell 1992 Authors of Plant Names for correct designations.  Many have changed recently.); common name(s) in regular caps.

½” spacing, then centered name of author(s); then ½” spacing

Family descriptions have ¼” space (3 key spaces), then origin of name, overall description of plant habit followed by a period; then underground parts followed by a period; then specific descriptive sections beginning with bold, capitalized first word: STEM(S); LEAVES; INFL; FLOWER(S); FRUIT(S); SEED(S) (or variations for specific families.  Descriptive information is followed by chromosome information (if included), then number of genera followed by number of species and worldwide distribution.  Taxonomic, ecological and/or ethnobotanical notes are followed by cited references within parentheses. 

Most, if not all, references should be cited here.  The references should not include basic works which will be cited in the “General References” section such as Intermountain Flora, Flora of North America, A Utah Flora, Flora of Texas, etc. which most authors will consult.  Cited references (if any) should be monographs, dissertations, etc. specific to the family, genus or other taxon described.  The reference citation should begin with the last name of the author, (comma) then the first and middle name/initial (no comma) followed by the year published (no comma) then the accepted name and/or abbreviation of the journal followed by the volume and pages.  Consult the BPH for proper journal abbreviation.

GENUS KEY: (see Rubiaceae and Cleomaceae examples) Note that not all treatments will have a genus key

The genus key is of parallel construction and is separated from the family description by ½” space (2 lines).  The key, and each line begins without indentation. Each couplet has a number and the numbers run sequentially.  Each couplet has two choices: the first uses the number and a period; the second uses the number and (') selected from “Symbol – Basic Latin” from the “Insert” menu in Microsoft Word.  Each selection in a couplet should have similar “mirror image” information (if it’s covered by one selection, it should be covered, in most cases, by the other), followed by a line of periods to either the bold italicized (initial letter capitalized) genus name or the number of another couplet in parentheses.  If the genus name will not fit on the line it should be followed by a row of periods to the end of the line, then continue the row of periods to the end of the next line, ending in the bold italicized genus name or parenthetic couplet number.

GENUS DESCRIPTION:

The genus description follows the genus key (or family description if there is only one genus described) by ¾” or three line spaces.  The genus name is centered with the scientific name bold italicized (initial letter capitalized) followed by a space and the non-bold name of the authority, followed by two spaces (or a reasonable equivalent) and the initially capitalized regular font common name(s).

The genus description begins with a ¼” indentation (3 spaces), then, in most cases, parentheses and a description of the genus name origin.  If a word is used in Greek, Roman or another language, it is regular italicized.  The description continues similarly to that of the family treatment with each description of an organ (LEAVES, FLOWER, etc.) proceeding from attachment point and outermost structure (i.e. calyx or bract) or petiole and stipule to other structures.  The description ends with the number and distribution of species worldwide along with taxonomic or other notes.

SPECIES KEY (note: some treatments will not have a species key):

Species keys will be constructed similarly to genus keys, except that when a species is identified, the genus will be given as a capital letter followed by a period, space and then specific epithet (first letter not capitalized), all in bold italics.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION: (See Rubiaceae and Cleomaceae sample treatments):

Species descriptions will follow species keys or genus descriptions by ½” of space (two line spaces).  The first line is indented ¼” (3 spaces) followed by the bold italicized binomial name of the species followed by regular, non-italicized authority name, then in parentheses, the origin of the specific epithet.  This is followed by the common name(s) with the first letter of the first common name capitalized only.  The description continues similarly to that of the genus, followed by synonomies enclosed in brackets.  Typical habitats and/or vegetation associations where found should follow, then local distribution.  Distributions should use state and county abbreviations listed in the authors’ guidelines.  Elevational ranges follow distributions, metric first, then English units in parentheses (English units should use an apostrophe instead of ft.).  The next entry is “Flowering:” using the three letter abbreviation for months, followed by a period and two spaces, then “Fruit:”, then the three letter abbreviations for months, then a period.  Fruiting period information inclusion is at the author’s discretion, but should be included if it is in any way unusual (other than immediately after flowering).   Finally, the general distribution of the species is included and taxonomic, ecological and/or ethnobotanical information is included.  Each species description is followed by a ¼” space (2 line spaces)

If more than one variety or subspecies is found in our area, a key and description of each variety or subspecies should follow (similar to that above)  If not, then a note should be made as to the variety or subspecies (if recognized or known) found in our study area, such as “ The subspecies found in our area is…”  Taxonomic descriptive information for subspecific taxa should then be integrated into the species description.

Each family treatment is followed by ¾” space (three line spaces)