Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
  • This submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration.
  • All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
  • All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
  • Permission has been obtained to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets.
  • All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author.
  • Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

General instructions

  1. Manuscripts should be written in Times new roman font (12 pt size with 1.5 line spacing).
  2. Manuscript must contain heading in the order: Title, Author(s) name, Author address, Email of author for correspondence, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials and methods, Taxonomic treatment (Vernacular names, Flowering & fruiting, Habitat, Distribution, Specimen examined, Conservation status and Notes), Acknowledgements, Literature cited.
  3. Tables must be incorporated along with the manuscript, following

Submission of Manuscript

All manuscripts should be submitted by online submission portal available in the journal website. Authors are requested to register with the journal prior to submission. Authors can submit their manuscripts after a simple log-in using the user ID and password.

The receipt of the manuscript will be acknowledged with a reference number. Once a manuscript is submitted all correspondence regarding the submitted manuscript should refer to the reference number. Authors are encouraged to submit names, affiliation(s)/addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses of three to four potential referees for a manuscript in their covering letter. Addresses of the authors should be linked to author names by numbers in superscript. Opinions expressed in the papers published in Rheedea are the sole responsibility of the authors and publication does not imply the editors’ agreement.

Language

Papers should be consistently written in British/ American English. Authors are suggested to have their manuscript(s) checked for linguistic correctness before submission. Authors should strive for clarity and readability in their writing. This includes using straightforward language, avoiding jargon where possible, and explaining any specialized terms or concepts that may not be familiar to all readers. The writing should reflect a formal academic style, avoiding colloquial language and informal expressions. The tone should be professional and appropriate for scholarly communication. Authors should maintain consistency in language usage throughout the manuscript. This includes consistent use of terminology, formatting, and abbreviations. Authors for whom English is not a first language may consider seeking assistance from a native English speaker or professional editing service to enhance the quality of their manuscript.

Title

The title of the manuscript and name(s) and affiliation(s)/addresse(s) of the author(s) should be placed on the first page of the manuscript. Title should be precise, informative and appropriate, preferably not exceeding 15 words. and should be typed in regular and bold fonts. Plant names are given in the title should be without author citation. Family name of the taxon should be given in brackets and the sub-categories of taxonomic ranks should be separated by a colon. Addresses of the authors should be linked to author names by numbers in superscript.

Running Title: Authors are requested to suggest a running title for their articles.

Abstract

All research papers and reviews must have an abstract. It should highlight the objectives, results and conclusions of the work. References should not be cited in the abstract. Plant names should be with author citation. It should contain minimum 40 words and maximum 200 words depending on the length of the paper.

Keywords

Up to six words reflecting the subject covered in the paper should be given in alphabetical sequence separated by commas. Keywords should avoid words from the title as far as possible. It should be placed after the abstract on the second page of the manuscript.

Main Text

Main text should start on the second page along with the title of the article, abstract and keywords. The text should normally follow the following sequence: Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion (if any), Acknowledgements (if any) and Literature Cited.

Species should be treated in the following sequence: Nomenclature, Description, Vernacular names, Flowering and fruiting, Habitat & ecology, Etymology (for novelties), Distribution, Specimen(s) examined, Conservation status (if any) and Notes (if any).

International System of Units (SI) should be used for all measurements in the description. Scientific names of genera and species should be given with author citation only when they are cited for the first time in the text. If species names appear repeatedly in the text, the genus name may be abbreviated. Scientific names of taxa should be in italics. Hyphens are to be used to link words. En-dash (–) should be used to indicate ranges of numbers in text and pages in Literature cited. Multiplication sign ‘×’ should be used in measurements of length and width.

  1. Taxonomic treatment

Scientific names should be written in bold, followed by author citation (refer IPNI). Infrageneric or infraspecific ranks are abbreviated (section-sect., variety-var., forma-f.). In case of new taxa, the ranks must be properly indicated (gen. nov., sp. nov., comb. nov., stat. nov.). Publications and author names should be abbreviated as in International Plant Names Index.

  1. Nomenclature

Nomenclatural acts must follow the rules of the latest edition of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). Ensure that any newly described species, subspecies, or varieties are published in accordance with these standards.

  1. Synonyms

Nomenclatural synonyms should be arranged chronologically after basionym irrespective of their rank. The references cited for the correct names, basionyms and synonyms should be avoided in ‘Literature Cited’ unless it is cited in the text. Pattern of citation should be as appeared in the latest issue of Rheedea. Homotypic synonyms should be written continuously as a paragraph, heterotypic synonyms should be in different  paragraph. Type should be written in the order—COUNTRY, State, locality, geographic co-ordinates, date, Collector Collection number (holo/iso/syn HERBARIUM ACRONYM!). Figure number should be right aligned at the end of typification.

  1. Description

The description should begin without a heading. It should follow a logical order starting from—habit, root, stem, stipule, petiole, leaves, inflorescence, pedicels, bracts, bracteoles, flowers, calyx, corolla, androecium, gynoecium and seeds/achenes. Characters of organs should be followed by a period (.), sub-units separated by semi-colon (;) and character states separated by comma (,). Description of organ should be in the order—shape, size, base, margin, apex, texture, indumentum, color. Use metric scale for dimensions and SI units for measurements, separate dimension from units using a space. En-dash should be used to indicate numerical range, hyphen should be used to connect words and number to words. ‘c.’ should be used before dimension to indicate values based on a single specimen. Multiplication sign ‘×’ should be used in measurements of length and width.

Perennial, twining herbs, c. 25 cm long. Stem quadrangular, 2 cm diam., sparsely hairy. Leaf alternate; petioles 1–2 cm long, channeled above, pilose; laminae elliptic or ovate, 0.6–5.3 × 0.3–2.6 cm, base cuneate, margins serrate, apex acute-cuspidate, chartaceous, hispid above, pilose below, dark green above, wine-red below.

Sub-headings under Taxonomic treatment should follow the following order:

Flowering & fruiting, Habitat & ecology, Distribution, Etymology, Specimens examined, Conservation status and Notes.

  1. Citation of Specimens

Specimens should be cited country-wise (in upper case) alphabetically and within the country in the sequence of region if any, state (in bold), locality, coordinates, elevation, date of collection, collector’s name (in italics), collection number and acronym of herbarium (in brackets and barcode of the specimen, if any). To indicate that the voucher specimen(s) [only those involve typification issues, not the general representatives] that have been seen by author(s) use an exclamation mark (!) after the herbarium acronym. However, if only the image of the herbarium specimen has been seen by the author(s), it should be indicated with an exclamation (image!). Specimens examined should be ordered alphabetically, within country, state and district, and follow chronological order. Collections from same locality should be denoted as ‘Ibid.’ Use abbreviation in italics like s.loc., s.d., s.coll., s.n. in case of missing data.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Meghalaya, Shillong, 18.08.1886, C.B.Clarke 44566 (CAL!). Sikkim, s.loc., 1881, King s.n. (CAL!). Uttarakhand, Dehradun district, 08.1897, P.W.Mackinnon s.n.; Mussoorie, 27.08.1898, s.coll. s.n. (CAL!). West Bengal, s.d., Darjeeling district, Kalimpong, J.Ripley 1261128 (CAL!).

  1. GPS Data Format

Authors submitting geographic information should provide GPS coordinates in the following standard format:

Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS): For example, 37°25'19.07"N, 122°05'06.24"W.

  1. Taxonomic Keys

Bracketed dichotomous keys, preferably polythetic, should be strictly provided. Each couplet should be identified by a number and between couplets space should be provided. The following pattern should be followed

  1. Plants armed; calyx lobes apically spinose; corolla yellowish to orange ... B. prionitis
  2. Plants unarmed; calyx lobes not apically spinose; corolla bluish or purplish........... 2
  3. Flowers in dense spikes; seeds 4 per capsule..................................................B. strigosa
  4. Flowers solitary in leaf axils; seeds 2 per capsule.................................. B. integrisepala
  5. New taxa/New Status/New Combination(s)/New Report(s):

Authors who describe new taxa or propose new status or combinations in the publication are also advised to consult, besides experts in the particular plant group, the type materials or images of the closely allied taxa to authenticate the novelty and identity of the taxa. Authors who describe new taxa or propose new status or combinations in the publication are also advised to consult, besides experts in the group, the type materials or images of the closely allied taxa to authenticate the novelty and identity of the taxa.

  1. Acronyms of Herbaria

 Acronyms/codes cited for herbaria should be as per Index Herbariorum. If the herbarium does not have an acronym/code, it can be cited as follows: Manimuthar, 03.07.2006, Ganesan & Kottai Muthu 5608 (Herbarium ATREE, Bengaluru).

  1. Standard forms/Abbreviations of Author Names:

This should be in conformity with the Authors of Plant Names by Brummitt and Powell (1992) and International Plant Names Index.

  1. Abbreviation of Titles of Books and Periodicals:

Titles of books should be abbreviated as per Taxonomic Literature (2nd Edition) by Stafleu and Cowan (1976–1988) and its Supplements by Stafleu and Mennenga (1992– 2000) and Dorr and Nicolson (2008–2009). Titles of periodicals as in Botanico-Periodicum-Huntianum by Lawrence et al. (1968) and its Supplementum by Bridson and Smith (1991). All titles of books and periodicals that appear under Literature Cited should be in italics.

Acknowledgements

The Acknowledgements section should be placed at the end of the manuscript, before the References section. Acknowledgements should be concise and relevant, without lengthy personal statements. In this section, authors may:

  • Recognize funding agencies or organizations that supported the research financially or logistically. Full names of institutions and grant numbers (if applicable) should be provided.
  • Acknowledge individuals who contributed significantly to the research or manuscript preparation but who do not qualify as co-authors. This could include individuals who provided technical assistance, fieldwork help, or editorial support.

Literature cited

References to articles and books should be limited to works that are published, in press or theses and dissertations submitted to a recognised University. References should be chronologically listed in alphabetical order. Ensure all references cited in the text are listed under ‘Literature Cited’ before submission of manuscripts. The author(s) names, in the references should be in upper case letters. Following style and pattern should be strictly adhered. References should be cited in the text as follows: for a single author, use Manilal (1991); for two authors, use Manilal & Sivarajan (1991); and for three or more authors, use Sivarajan et al. (2001). Alternatively, citations can be presented in parentheses, such as (Manilal, 1991; Manilal & Sivarajan, 1991; Nampy, 2001; Sivarajan et al., 2001). All citations must include full details to allow for source identification and retrieval. DOIs should be included for journal articles that have them, as this facilitates linking to the online versions of the papers.

Journal

SCOTLAND R.W. & K. VOLLESEN 2000. Classification of Acanthaceae. Kew Bulletin 55: 513–589.

SOUZA E.R.DE, KRISHNARAJ M.V. & L.P. DE QUEIROZ 2016. Sanjappa, a new genus in the tribe Ingeae (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) from India. Rheedea 26: 1–12.

Book

SANJAPPA M. 1992. Legumes of India. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, p.496.

Chapter

ASHTON P.S. 1981. Myrtaceae. In: DASSANAYAKE, M.D. & F.R. FOSBERG (eds.), A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. Volume 2. Oxford & IBH, New Delhi. pp. 403–451.

Thesis

VATSALA P. 1964. Studies on the cytology and evolution of Orchidaceae with special reference to orchids of South India. Submitted to Kerala University (unpublished).

Webpage

GOVAERTS R., BOGNER J., BOOS J., BOYCE P., COSGRIFF B., CROAT T., GONCALAVES E., GRAYUM M., HAY A., HETTERSCHEID W., ITTENBACH S., LANDOLT E., MAYO S., MURATA J., NGUYEN V.D., SAKURAGUI C.M., SINGH Y., THOMPSON S. & G. ZHU 2018. World Checklist of Araceae. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/ (Accessed on 28.01.2018).

Illustrations/Figures/Photographs

High-quality figures and illustrations are essential to effectively communicate your research. Please follow these guidelines when preparing and submitting figures:

  • Format and Resolution: Illustrations, figures, and photographs must be submitted as separate files in JPEG, TIFF, or PNG formats with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Figures in PDF format will not be accepted. For final submission, the required resolution is 300 dpi for color images in RGB mode, 300–600 dpi for grayscale or black-and-white images, and 600–1200 dpi for line art (bitmap).
  • Illustrations: Line drawings, maps, and other illustrations must be sharp and clear and should be at least in 300 dpi. Illustrations should be professionally drawn in Indian ink (black) on Bristol board or tracing film. They should be scanned in BITMAP or TIFF format and arrange all the individual drawings sequentially using Adobe photoshop or similar software’s (Do not use MS Powerpoint or MS Word to arrange the figures). All scanned hard-copy images must be cleaned from dust, scratches, and any other irregularities. Illustrations should include scale bars or be annotated to indicate scale.
  • Size and Layout: Figures should be large enough to be legible when reduced to fit a single column (85 mm or 8.5 cm) or double column (160 mm or 16 cm) width in the journal (exclude the margins in your figure). Avoid including overly large or complicated figures that may be difficult to interpret at publication size.
  • Figure Legends: Figure legends should explain all symbols, abbreviations, and labels used in the figure. Do not include Legends in the figure itself. Legends for the illustrations/figures and photographs should be placed on a separate page next to ‘Literature Cited’.
  • Placement and Numbering: All figures must be referred to in the text and numbered sequentially ( 1 or Figs. 1 & 2 or Fig. 1a–d or Fig. 2f & g). Submit figures as separate files, not embedded within the manuscript. Letters in Illustrations/figures and photographs in plates should be indicated with lower case alphabets (a, b, c) in Arial narrow font at the bottom right-corner not interfering the subject. Colour photographs are published at author’s cost (Rs. l,500 per photo/photo plate), which may be revised periodically.
  • Arrangement of parts of a plant in a figure with analysis: For a clear and logical serial arrangement of plant parts, you could organize the figure as follows:
    • Habit - Show the general form and growth pattern of the plant (e.g., entire plant view).
    • Roots - Display the root system, showing any specific structure or adaptations.
    • Stem - Highlight the stem's morphology, including nodes and internodes if relevant.
    • Leaves - Illustrate leaf structure, venation, and arrangement on the stem.
    • Inflorescences - Present the branching pattern and structure of the inflorescences.
    • Flower - Provide a close-up of a complete flower, showing symmetry and arrangement of floral parts.
    • Floral Organs:
      1. Sepals - Show the sepals individually or as a calyx.
      2. Petals - Display individual petals or the corolla structure.
      3. Stamens - Illustrate the arrangement and structure of stamens.
      4. Pistil/Carpels - Show the pistil, with emphasis on style, stigma, and ovary.A cross section of the ovary may also be included.
    • Fruits - Show the mature fruit structure, surface texture, and any notable features that aid in identification.
    • Seeds - Display seeds, focusing on size, shape, and any distinguishing surface patterns.

    For a figure showing the above plant parts with a systematic layout, you could use English lowercase letters to label each part in sequence, starting from the overall habit and ending with seeds. This progression from general to specific structures provides a systematic overview of the plant's morphology, useful for comparative and taxonomic studies. However, sometimes certain characters in this sequence, which are not crucial for taxonomic delimitation, may be omitted from the figure. This allows the focus to remain on diagnostically significant traits, providing a clearer basis for comparison.

Tables

Tables should be placed at the end of the manuscript after ‘Legends’ and sequentially numbered. Indicate in the text where the table should be placed as Table 1 or Table 1 & 2. Include a brief caption above each table, explaining the content concisely. Avoid excessive use of tables; combine information where possible.

It is the responsibility of authors to ensure that their manuscripts strictly adhere to the above-mentioned guidelines. Manuscripts that do not conform to these guidelines will not be considered for publication. Therefore, authors are requested to comply with the ‘’Guidelines for Contributors’’ when they prepare their manuscript.

Galley Proofs

A soft copy of the galley proof of the article will be sent to the corresponding author, accompanied by instructions for making corrections. Authors are requested to return the corrected proofs to the editorial office within the specified time limit. It is the author's sole responsibility to ensure that the proof is corrected accurately.

Authors are requested to carefully review the galley proof for the following:

  • Spelling and Grammar: Check for any typographical errors or grammatical mistakes that may have occurred during the typesetting process.
  • Figures and Tables: Ensure that all figures and tables are correctly presented and that captions accurately describe their content.
  • Citations: Verify that all in-text citations and references are correctly formatted and match the final reference list.
  • Content Accuracy: Confirm that all scientific data and information are accurate and that no critical changes have been inadvertently made.
  • Return of Corrected Proofs: Authors must return the corrected proofs to the editorial office within the prescribed time limit specified in the accompanying instructions. Timely submission is crucial to ensure that the publication process proceeds without delays.
  • Adherence to Journal Guidelines: It is crucial that authors ensure their manuscript complies with the journal’s guidelines at this stage. This includes checking formatting, style, and any specific requirements outlined in the author guidelines. Manuscripts that do not adhere to the journal’s standards may not be accepted for publication.
  • Author's Responsibility: It is the author's full responsibility to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the corrections made to the galley proof. Authors are encouraged to consult with co-authors if necessary, to ensure that all aspects of the manuscript meet their approval before submission of the corrected proof.

Failure to return the corrected proofs within the specified time frame may result in delays in publication. The final responsibility for the content of the article lies with the authors, and they should ensure that the proof reflects their intended message and findings.

Reprints

The PDF version of reprints will be available for download from the journal website.

NBA Regulation

All authors who are non-Indian or non-resident Indian and who publish articles based on freshly collected plant specimens from within the political boundaries of India are required to declare their compliance with the regulations set forth by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). This declaration is crucial for ensuring the ethical and legal utilization of biological resources, in line with India's commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Mandatory Declaration: Authors must explicitly state in their manuscript that they have adhered to all relevant regulations established by the NBA. This includes obtaining the necessary permissions and permits for the collection and use of biological resources. A formal declaration should be included in the manuscript, ideally in a section dedicated to ethical considerations or acknowledgements.

Proof of Access: Authors must provide evidence of their compliance by submitting appropriate documentation that demonstrates they have secured access to the biological resources in accordance with the NBA regulations. This may include:

  • Copies of permits or approvals obtained from the NBA or relevant state biodiversity boards.
  • Any additional documentation that verifies adherence to local and national laws governing biodiversity conservation.

Importance of Compliance: Compliance with the NBA regulations not only fulfills legal obligations but also contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and promotes responsible research practices. It ensures that the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples are respected and that the benefits arising from the use of biological resources are shared fairly.

Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to declare compliance or provide the required proof may result in the manuscript being rejected or withdrawn from consideration for publication. The journal prioritizes ethical research practices and adherence to legal frameworks governing biodiversity.

Authors' Responsibility:

It is the authors' responsibility to familiarize themselves with the NBA regulations and to ensure that all necessary steps have been taken prior to collecting specimens. This includes understanding the implications of their research on biodiversity conservation and engaging with local communities where applicable.

By adhering to these guidelines, authors contribute to the sustainable use of biological resources and support the goals of biodiversity conservation in India.

Copyright

Authors should submit a Copyright form when a paper is accepted for publication. Upon acceptance of a manuscript for publication, the copyright of the article is transferred to Rheedea, the journal of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT). This transfer allows Rheedea to hold the exclusive rights to publish, reproduce, distribute, and archive the article in any form or medium, including print, digital, and online formats. For more details, see the Copyright Policy of the journal here.