Figure legends should start on a separate page . They should informatively describe the content of the figure; figures and legends together should be self-explanatory. All symbols and abbreviations used in the figures should be explained. Figure abbreviations should be placed in alphabetical order. Consult the following examples to follow the punctuation, style, and format for figure legends.

Plate (group of figures):

Example 1 Figs. 1–8. The cell and cyst of Ensiculifera sp. (Figs. 4, 6 are SEM and others are LM). 1. An empty cyst from the field, showing the organic spines. 2. A living cyst in culture. 3. Thecal plates, lateral view. 4. Thecal plates, ventral view. 5, 6. Thecal plates, dorsal view. 7. Hypotheca, showing the spine of t plate (arrow). 8. Hypotheca, showing the sulcal plates.

Example 2 Fig. 1. Tuomeya americana (Kützing) Papenfuss. A, Habit of frond. B, Part of a frond, showing shape of whorls. C, The cross section through a node showing an axial cell and numerous layers of cortical cells. D, Numerous cortical filaments. E, Carposporangia. F, Apical portion of the branch with an apical cell (arrow).

Abbreviations: Ac, axial cell; bc, basal cell; cc, cortical cell; pf, primary fascicle; sf, secondary fascicle.

Single figure:

Example 3 Fig. 1. Strobilanthes quadrifaria (Wall. ex Nees) Y. F. Deng. A, inflorescence branch; B, leaves; C, bract; D, bracteoles; E, calyx; F, opened corolla showing stamens; G, ovary and style; H, ovary; I, stigma. Drawn by Y. X. Liu from the type gathering, G. D. Tao et al. 44675.

Figures include line drawings, photographs, charts, graphs, and maps. Each figure or plate should be designed to fit into the area of either one or two columns of text. The maximal size of one-column illustration is 8.0 cm × 22.5 cm and that of a two-column illustration is 17.0 cm × 22.5 cm. The figures, including those arranged in groups, must be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals and each one must be referred to in the text. Low-resolution files, inserted in text, may be adequate for review process, but high-resolution files are always required to be submitted separately prior to publication. The minimal requirements for final figures are 600 dpi for line art (black lines and text, including phylogenetic trees), 300 dpi for halftones and color (photographs and gray-scale images), and 600 dpi for combinations (halftones with type). TIFF or JPG format files, prepared in Adobe Photoshop, are preferred. Consult the editorial office at aps@ibcas.ac.cn for additional information.