Before sending a story to copy editors, the editor should verify all plant names. The lead copy editor for each issue may check plant names at his/her discretion at manuscript stage, and should check all plant names at first proof stage. Subsequent CEs need look up only names that seem questionable or plants that are added at later stages.
The
source
for
all
spellings
is
A–Z
Encyclopedia
of
Garden
Plants,
which
lists
plants
by
scientific
name:
genus,
followed
by
species
names,
and
cultivars
(in
single
quotes).
Common
names
are
listed
in
parentheses.
An
alphebetical
index
in
the
back
of
the
book
also
lists
common
names.
Follow
the
A–Z spelling, unless it differs from the SIM Stylebook. If a plant name can’t be verified in A–Z,
use
the
search
engine
Google.com.
If
unable
to
verify,
the
CE
should
add
a
note
to
the
layout
so
the
editor
can
double-check
in
another
reference.
Note:
Be
aware
that,
in
some
cases,
more
than
one
species
might
share
the
same
common
name.
Specific
plants
also
may
have
multiple
common
names.
In
addition,
not
all
plants
are
listed
in
A–Z.
If
a
CE
cannot
find
a
plant
name
in
A–Z,
he/she
should
try
to
find
it
using
a
Google
search.
If
the
CE
still
cannot
verify
a
plant
name,
or
questions
whether
a
plant
name
is
correct,
it
should
be
flagged
with
a
question
so
the
editor
can
check
it.
Do
not
change
a
plant
name
without
checking
with
the
editor,
except
in
the
case
of
an
obvious
typographical
error.
Plant names style, G1.1
Scientific names, G1.2
Trademarked plants, G1.3
Common names, G1.4
Parentheses, G1.5
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