简体中文
EnglishWhat is the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT)?
Updated
The International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) is a non-profit membership association founded in 1950 to promote, support, and facilitate taxonomic, systematic, and nomenclatural research into algae, fungi, and plants. It serves professional, student, and early-career researchers in these fields, and it is the publisher and custodian of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (the Code). If you work on plant, algal, or fungal classification and naming—or want to publish nomenclatural proposals—IAPT is the body that governs and connects that work.
Who IAPT is for
IAPT describes itself as a global association of professional, student, and early-career plant, algal, and fungal taxonomists and systematists. Membership is open to everyone. The association reports nearly 1,000 members across more than 60 countries, so joining places you in an international, collaborative community rather than a single-institution or single-country group.
What IAPT actually does
The association's work falls into four main areas:
- Publications — IAPT publishes Taxon, the Regnum Vegetabile book series, and the Code.
- Grants — it provides research and travel grants to students and early-career researchers.
- Events — it organises symposia at international meetings, both in person around the world and online.
- Nomenclature governance — it facilitates the governance and maintenance of the Code.
Publications in detail
| Publication | What it is |
|---|---|
| Taxon | The leading international journal devoted to systematics, phylogeny, and taxonomy of algae, fungi, and plants. Also accepts papers on methodology, botanical history, biography, bibliography, and related subjects, plus opinion pieces, commentaries, and new perspectives. |
| Regnum Vegetabile | A book series on systematic and evolutionary biology, with emphasis on plants, algae, and fungi; broad in scope and of general importance to taxonomists and other biologists. |
| The Code | The internationally agreed set of rules and recommendations governing botanical, phycological, and mycological nomenclature. IAPT is its publisher and custodian. |
A key practical point: Taxon is the only place to publish proposals to amend the Code or to publish nomenclatural proposals. If your work involves formally changing or proposing names, that is the venue.
Why the Code matters to non-members
Even if you never join, the Code affects anyone who names or reclassifies algae, fungi, or plants. Because IAPT maintains and publishes it, the association sits at the centre of how names are validated, conserved, or changed. Recent news on the site illustrates this ongoing work—for example, a French translation of the Madrid Code (Code de Madrid) is available, and a nomenclature workshop is scheduled for 2026.
Membership benefits
According to IAPT, members gain access to:
- Specialist workshops and symposia
- Links to key online resources
- Taxonomic and systematic news, views, and reviews
- An online directory of employment opportunities in the field
The site lists a "Plans & Pricing" page, so membership tiers and costs exist; check that page directly for current figures rather than assuming a rate.
When to engage with IAPT
- You want to publish a nomenclatural proposal or an amendment to the Code — Taxon is the required route.
- You are a student or early-career researcher needing funding — IAPT offers competitive research and travel grants.
- You need authoritative nomenclature rules — the Code, published by IAPT, is the reference.
- You want a professional network in taxonomy — membership connects you to roughly 1,000 colleagues worldwide.
For upcoming major gatherings, note that the 21st International Botanical Congress will be held in Cape Town in 2029.