View source for International Association for Plant Taxonomy

{{redirect|IAPT|the Indian organization|Indian Association of Physics Teachers}}
{{Infobox Organization
| name         = International Association for Plant Taxonomy
| image        = Iapt.gif
| image_border = 
| size         = 80x80 
| caption      = 
| formation    = [[July 18]] [[1950]]
| type         = 
| headquarters = [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]
| location     = 
| membership   = 
| language     = 
| leader_title = President
| leader_name  = [[David Mabberley]]
| key_people   = 
| num_staff    = 
| budget       = 
| website      = http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/iapt/
}}


The '''International Association for Plant Taxonomy''' ('''IAPT''') promotes an understanding of [[plant]] [[biodiversity]], facilitates international communication of research between [[botany|botanists]], and oversees matters of uniformity and stability in plant names. The IAPT was founded on [[July 18]] [[1950]] at the Seventh [[International Botanical Congress]] in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]].<ref>[[#Reference-idIAPT|IAPT web site]].</ref> Currently, the IAPT headquarters is located in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. Its current president, since [[2005]], is [[David Mabberley]] of [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]], [[United States|U.S.A]].

Both the taxonomic journal '''''Taxon''''' and the series '''''Regnum Vegetabile''''' are published by the IAPT.  The latter series includes the ''[[International Code of Botanical Nomenclature]]'', the ''Index Nominum Genericorum'', and ''Index Herbarorium''.

==Purpose==
The IAPT's primary purpose is the promotion and understanding of [[biodiversity]]—the discovery, naming, [[taxonomic classification|classification]], and [[systematics]] of plants—for both living and [[Paleobotany|fossil plants]]. Additionally, it promotes the study and [[conservation biology|conservation]] of plant biodiversity, and works to raise awareness of the general public to this issue. The organization also facilitates international cooperation among botanists working in the fields of plant [[systematics]], [[plant taxonomy|taxonomy]], and [[botanical nomenclature|nomenclature]]. This is accomplished in part through sponsorship of meetings and publication of resources, such as reference publications and journals.

{{cquote | IAPT was founded in 1950 as a not-for-profit organisation for the purposes of publication of a periodical (''Taxon'') dealing with activities of the association and with objects of general importance for plant taxonomy, the publication of books and indices of utility for plant taxonomists (''Regnum Vegetabile''), the establishment and maintenance of committees for specific taxonomic and nomenclatural purposes, and the organization of international symposia on problems of plant systematics.<ref>[[#Reference-idIAPT2004|''Taxon'' '''53''' (1): 2]].</ref> }}

The IAPT also seeks to achieve uniformity and stability in [[Botanical name|plant names]].  It accomplishes this through the ''[[#Publications|International Code of Botanical Nomenclature]]'' and through the oversight of the International Bureau for Plant Taxonomy and Nomenclature.

==Publications and resources==
One way in which the IAPT encourages communication among botanists is through its several publications, including the [[Scientific journal|journal]] ''Taxon'', the series ''Regnum Vegetabile'', and the ''International Code of Botanical Nomenclature''.  It also maintains several taxonomy-related [[database]]s available on-line.

===''Taxon''===
<!-- [[Taxon (journal)]] redirects to this section -->

''Taxon'' <ref>{{ISSN|0040-0262}}.</ref> is the quarterly journal of the IAPT.  It has been published since [[1951]] by the International Bureau for Plant Taxonomy and Nomenclature. Although the journal is "devoted to systematic and evolutionary biology with emphasis on botany",<ref>[[#Reference-idTAXON|TAXON - Journal of the IAPT]].</ref> it has been criticized for focusing overly on nomenclature and less on the principles and advancements made in the field of plant systematics.<ref>[[#Reference-idDavis1973|Davis & Heywood 1973]], pp.33-34.</ref> The journal also publishes nomenclatural proposals for the Nomenclature Section of the [[IUBS|International Union of Biological Sciences]].<ref>[[#Reference-idIAPT2004|''Taxon'' '''53''' (1): 2]].</ref>

===''Regnum Vegetabile''===
<!-- [[Regnum Vegetabile]] redirects to this section -->

''Regnum Vegetabile'' <ref>{{ISSN|0080-0694}}.</ref> is a published series of books on topics of interest to plant taxonomists.  Many of the volumes are literature surveys or monographs in the area of plant systematics.  There are several volumes of general use:

* ''[[International Code of Botanical Nomenclature]]'' (Vol. 146, 2006) The ''ICBN'' is a set of rules and recommendations dealing with the [[Botanical nomenclature|formal names]] that are given to plants.  The current edition is known as the "Vienna Code", as it was drafted in 2005 at the Seventeeth International Botanical Congress in Vienna, Austria. 
* ''International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants'', 7th edition (Vol. 144, 2005)  Companion to the ''ICBN'', this volume sets forth rules regarding the names of plant [[cultivar]]s.
* ''Index Nominum Genericorum'' (Vols. 100-102 & 113) An index of all published [[Genus|generic]] names covered by the ''ICBN'', including the place of publication and information about the type species.  The index is prepared in collaboration with the [[Smithsonian Institution]].  An electronic version is available online in draft form.
* ''Index Herbarorium'', 7th edition (Vol. 106, 1981)  A directory and guide to the [[Herbarium|herbaria]] of the world, including contact information, abbreviation codes, and important collections located in each herbarium.  This publication is also available online.
* ''International Directory of Botanical Gardens'' (Vol. 95, 1977) A directory to [[botanical garden]]s and [[Arboretum|arboreta]] around the world.

The series includes many additional volumes of interest to specialists in specific subdisciplines of [[botany]], in addition to the ones listed above.

===Databases===
In addition to electronic versions of its print publications, the IAPT maintains the following:

* "Names in Current Use" <ref>[http://www.bgbm.org/iapt/ncu/default.htm Names in Current Use (NCU)]</ref> - A database of scientific names of extant botanical genera.

==See also==
*[[Plant taxonomy]]

==Notes and citations==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*{{wikicite|id=idDavis1973|reference=Davis, P.H. & V. H. Heywood (1973). ''Principles of Angiosperm Taxonomy'', revised ed. Huntington, New York: Robert E. Krieger. ISBN 0-88275-129-8. }}
*{{wikicite|id=idIAPT2004|reference=(2004) "[http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/iapt/downloads/strategic_plan.pdf IAPT Strategic Plan]" (PDF). ''Taxon'' '''53''' (1): 2.}}
*{{wikicite|id=idIAPT|reference=[http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/iapt/ IAPT web site]. Retrieved on [[2007]][[December 18|-12-18]].}}
*{{wikicite|id=idTAXON|reference=[http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/iapt/s_taxon.php TAXON - Journal of the IAPT]. Retrieved on [[2007]][[December 15|-12-15]].}}

==External links== 
*[http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/iapt/ IAPT]
*[http://ravenel.si.edu/botany/ing/ ''Index Nominum Genericorum'']
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{{Botany}}

[[Category:Botanical nomenclature]]
[[Category:Plant taxonomy]]
[[Category:Botanical societies]]
[[Category:International scientific organizations]]
[[Category:Biology organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1950]]

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