Author Guidelines

Refereed Research

Publication category for traditionally constructed scientific papers on topics related to native plants. Designed to communicate the results of research projects conducted with strict adherence to scientific principles and high levels of rigor. Refereed research articles must demonstrate narrowly defined objectives, appropriate controls, adequate replication and repetition, properly applied statistical analyses, and appropriately derived conclusions.

Topic Review

Publication category for critical literature reviews on topics of interest to the native plant scientific community. Designed to provide a forum for summarizing historical research progress and defining the current boundary of knowledge within native plant–related subjects.

Germplasm Release

Publication category for documentation of development and release of native plant germplasm for restoration or landscaping purposes. Descriptions can include named cultivars, selected germplasm, or source-identified natural germplasm.

Propagation Protocol

Publication category for documenting and distributing practical information concerning propagation, production, and establishment of native species. Protocols may describe either seed or vegetative methods. Described techniques should be vetted through scientific investigation or successful, repeated, long-term application.

General Technical

Publication category for practical techniques, processes, and apparati associated with native plant production, establishment, and (or) management. Topic matter and presentation in this category of articles are flexible and varied.

Style

For matters of style, we generally follow Scientific Style and Format, The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 8th ed. Council of Science Editors (ISBN 978-0-226116495).

Refrain from the use of special formatting.

Use active voice in your writing style.

Units and Values

For presentation of numerical values, use metric (SI) units followed by US Customary units in parentheses, for example, “length was 125 cm (49.2 in).” Abbreviate all unit designations, except those without numerical value, for example, “We measured parts per million and found 250 ppm nitrogen.”

Common abbreviations are: length – mm (in), cm (in), m (ft); area – cm² (in²), m² (ft²), ha (ac); volume – ml (oz), l (qt); time – s, min, h, d, wk, mo, y.

When reporting GPS coordinates, use the decimal degree format (for example, 47.94521 N, 113.24925 W).

Use numerals for any countable amount, including digits less than 10 (for example, 3 replicates, 15 populations).

Nomenclature

When referring to a biological species (plants, vertebrate animals, insects, fungi, and so forth), use common names followed by scientific names (including authorities and family names) in parentheses the first time a species is referenced in the abstract and again in the body of the manuscript. Example: whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm. [Pinaceae]). Example without common name: Phacelia rattanii Gray. (Hydrophyllaceae). All subsequent use can be either the common or the scientific name. If scientific names are summarized in a table, they need not be repeated in the body of the manuscript.

Check binomial names of all species included in the manuscript using an authoritative source. The standard source of nomenclature is the USDA PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov).

If this source is used, include the following citation below the key words on the second page of the manuscript: Nomenclature USDA NRCS (year). Include this full reference in the references section: [USDA NRCS] USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The PLANTS database. URL: http://plants.usda.gov (accessed day month year; e.g., 15 Dec 2015). Greensboro (NC): National Plant Data Team. Other nomenclature sources may be used, if justified. The nomenclature source should be listed under the Nomenclature heading and included in the references.

Authors may use common names listed in the USDA PLANTS Database or use local vernacular.

Formatting in Preparation for Review

Construct a header including an abbreviated title and page number that shows on all subsequent pages to the title page.

Double-space and consecutively number all lines of text in the manuscript to facilitate review.

On the first page of the manuscript, include only the title and author names (no contact information).

The second page should contain the title, abstract, key words, and nomenclature source. Abstracts should be brief (preferably 200 to 250 words) and emphasize objectives, results, and practicality to native plant practitioners. Include 3 to 7 key words excluding words contained in the title. Nomenclature includes a reference to the authoritative source for determining current accepted binomial names for plants, animals, or other organisms mentioned within the subject matter of the paper.

It is acceptable to include on the second page, after the Nomenclature citation, a small conversion table (SI to US Customary units) in the stead of providing both values throughout a complex manuscript. Example:

• 1 km² = 0.4 mi²

• 1 m = 3.3 ft

• (°C × 1.8) + 32 = °F

The outline and structure of the paper will depend on the publication category. Click on the link under the description of each category for specific instructions in preparing each type of manuscript.

Author contact information should be listed on a single page after the references. For each author, list full name, organizational affiliations, address, and e-mail address.

Following the Author Information, paste all tables and figures into the manuscript and include appropriate captions before or after each table or figure. This inclusion will aid in the review process, though the original graphic and photograph files will be uploaded separately during the submission process.

Reference and Citation Format

In the text, please list citations chronologically (rather than alphabetically), but if the same date applies to more than one source, then arrange those entries alphabetically by author (for example, Smith 1986, 1997; Jones and Smith 1992; Smith and Jones 1992; Doe and others 1998).

In the References section, list references alphabetically by author(s); for multiple entries for the same lead author, first list single author sources, then two authors, and finally multiple authors. Do not abbreviate the name of the referenced journal.

Table Formatting

Construct all tables using the table function in Word or other preferred word processing program.

If possible, design tables such that they fit in portrait orientation on a single 8.5 × 11” page.

Preparation of Figures and Photographs

When submitting an article through the NPJ web-based manuscript management system, you will be required to upload each figure file (graph, other graphic element, or photograph) individually. In order to facilitate layout procedures, graphs should be submitted as .eps files, a common output format used by many graphing programs. Alternately, if .eps formatting is not possible, graphs should be submitted in Excel or .pdf format. Photographs should be uploaded in .jpg or .tif format, and photograph files should be at least 1 MB (or 900 x 900 pixels) in size to ensure adequate resolution. Other types of graphics containing color presentation should also be uploaded in .jpg format and should be high resolution.

Inclusion of Photographs for Article Enhancement

Native Plants Journal is printed in a visually enhanced format and includes photographs to illustrate the content of each article. Photographs may include the subject species, elements of research protocols, or people involved in a project (please request permission to print if people are in the photographs). We request that each author select 1 to 5 “extra color” photographs to enhance the submitted article. Please include a caption and photo credits for each photograph on the figure upload page during the process of submission.

Pre-submission Tasks

Ensure manuscript quality by obtaining two internal peer reviews and completing appropriate revisions prior to submission. Be sure at least one of the reviewers is proficient in identifying problems with grammar, language, clarity, and concept flow.

Prepare a cover letter indicating the category of manuscript being submitted. If possible, include in the letter the names and contact information for 2 potential reviewers who can be contacted by NPJ associate editors and who have not previously reviewed the manuscript.

Inspect all citations and references to ensure content agreement; that is, if a source is cited within the text, include an entry for it in the references, and if a source appears in the references, include a callout for that source within the text. Please also edit for proper formatting.

Include captions and photo credits for photographs.

Submission

Submit your manuscript by accessing the Native Plants Journal Submission website (http://npj.msubmit.net). If you have an active account, log-in and follow the submission instructions. If this is your first time accessing the system, create an account and enter a username and password.

After filling in all requested information on the electronic submission forms, follow the instructions to upload all pertinent files to the submission site. Files may include a cover letter, the manuscript, original figure files, and any additional photographs the authors wish to submit.

Post-submission Tasks

All submitted manuscripts will be peer-reviewed by 2 reviewers to ensure the quality and appropriateness of submitted papers.

Authors may check the status of a paper under review by accessing the NPJ submission website (http://npj.msubmit.net).

Upon completion of reviews, the editor will issue a preliminary decision. If considered acceptable with revision, the manuscript will be returned to the authors for improvement.

Upon resubmission of the revised manuscript, the Editor will indicate a final decision, and if accepted, work with the authors to ensure all paper elements are appropriate for use by the technical editor.

Post-acceptance Tasks

Prior to publication, authors must complete and submit the consent-to-publish form that is linked to the manuscript submission website. The form can also be requested by the authors from the NPJ managing editor at this e-mail address: npjeditor{at}frontiernet.net.

REFEREED RESEARCH

TOPIC REVIEW

GERMPLASM RELEASE

PROPAGATION PROTOCOL

GENERAL TECHNICAL