Guide for Contributors to  Plant Ecology & Diversity

Papers and shorte

r contributions are invited on any aspect of Botany, particularly those dealing with Scottish material. Manuscripts should be submitted to:

Dr Laszlo Nagy
2/1, 27 Glencairn Drive, 
Glasgow  G41 4QP 

Tel: 0141 423 6533
e-mail: laszlo.nagy@stir.ac.uk

MANUSCRIPTS must be typewritten, using double spacing with ample margins, and submitted in duplicate. An abstract of not more than 200 words should precede the paper except in the case of short contributions. Papers should normally not exceed 5,000 words or their equivalent (10 pages) including figures. Words of foreign origin should be underlined or typed in italic. A running title of not more than 55 characters and spaces should be given at the top of the first page.

HEADINGS and sub-headings should be typed on separate lines in lower case and not underlined.

SCIENTIFIC NAMES (genus, species and authority) must be cited in full at the first mention. Subsequently the generic name may be abbreviated except where confusion is likely. Names of cultivars should be preceded by the abbreviation cv. If vernacular names are used the scientific names must be given at the first mention. All Latin names must be underlined or typed in italic. Authorities may be omitted from lists if the names follow standard texts and floras, which must be specified.
TABLES should be set out on a separate sheet and numbered in Arabic numerals. Captions, which should be sufficient to make the tables self-explanatory, should be given-above the table.
MEASUREMENTS should follow the metric system. Details of SI units are set out in Metrication in Scientific Journals (The Royal Society, 1968). Symbols, signs and abbreviations should follow the British Standard 1991: Part 1:1954.
NUMBERS should be written as numerals when preceding units (e.g. of length or time) or other items when above nine; numbers preceding other items up to nine should be spelt out.
ILLUSTRATIONS should be in the form of bold line drawings, prepared in Indian ink on stout white paper or faint blue-ruled graph paper. Drawings should be no more than 2-3 times the final print size (maximum width 14 cm). Lines and lettering should be inserted in stencil or dry print and reduction allowed for. Dot or line shading and not wash should be used. One finished set of illustrations is sufficient if a second rough set is provided. Figure legends should be self-explanatory and grouped together on a separate sheet.
PHOTOGRAPHS must be submitted on glossy paper and prints with sharp detail and moderate contrast should be used. They should bear on the back the authors name and figure number. The number of photographs allowed in any one volume is limited by cost.
REFERENCES in the text should cite Author and Date. Where more than one paper are cited together in the text they should be given in chronological order, e.g. (Green, 1964; Burtt, 1974). In the reference list, give Name(s) and Initials; Date; Full title; Journal (in full); Pagination; Place of Publication and Publisher (for a book). The name of the publication should be underlined or typed in italic (journal or book), e.g.

Burtt, B.L. (1974). Patterns of structural change in the flowering plants. Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 42(2), 133-142.

Green, F.H.W. (1964). The climate of Scotland. In The Vegetation of Scotland (ed. J.H. Burnett), pp. 15-35. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.

Perring, F.H. & Walters, S.M. (1962). Atlas of the British Flora, 432 pp. London: Nelson.

OFFPRINTS (25 per paper) will be prepared at the time of printing as free copies for authors. At proof stage, alterations from the original text will be charged for unless they are minor points of detail.