Phytotaxa is a peer-reviewed international journal for rapid publication on any aspect of systematic

Systematic

Systematic is an American hard rock band from Oakland, California. They were one of the first signings to Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich's record label, The Music Company, via Elektra Records. The band released two studio albums before disbanding in 2004....

 botany

Botany

Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...

. It publishes on a wide range of subjects, but focuses on new species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

, monographs, floras, revisions, reviews and typification issues. Phytotaxa covers all plant groups covered by the ICBN (incl. diatoms, fungi, algae

Algae

Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...

, lichens, mosses, hornworts, liverworts and vascular plants), both living and fossil

Fossil

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...

.

Started in 2009 (the first issue appeared in October 2009), Phytotaxa fills the lacuna that is created by other journals that do not publish new taxa anymore, due to their poor citation ratings. This is also the reason for the unconventional citation of author names of taxa. The journal can publish rapidly, because it has no page limitations per issue, and this allows larger works and species descriptions to appear readily. It is run by an international team of specialists, who act as editors for their specialist group of plants. Phytotaxa is non-profit and the scientific editors

Editors

Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...

 work on a voluntary basis. Authors have the option to publish in open access and this is strongly encouraged.