American Journal of Botany

American Journal of Botany
Title	American Journal of Botany
Discipline	Botany
Abbreviation	Am. J. Bot.
Publisher	Botanical Society of America
Country	United States
History	1914–present
Frequency	Monthly
Issn	0002-9122

American Journal of Botany The American Journal of Botany is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research in plant biology. It publishes original research, reviews, and perspectives that contribute to botanical knowledge and practice, serving readers across academic, museum, and arboreal institutions. The journal interfaces with major botanical organizations and appears alongside other periodicals in the history of natural science publishing.

History

The journal was established in 1914 during a period of consolidation in American scientific societies involving figures associated with the Botanical Society of America, Smithsonian Institution, New York Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden, and contributors linked to universities such as Harvard University, Yale University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Michigan. Early editorial leadership included botanists who engaged with institutions like Kew Gardens, Royal Society, American Philosophical Society, and archives such as those at Library of Congress. Over decades the journal reflected developments tied to events and movements like the expansion of research funding by agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the professionalization trends exemplified by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and international exchanges with organizations like the International Botanical Congress and the Royal Horticultural Society. Landmark editorial changes paralleled work by prominent botanists affiliated with museums including the Field Museum and with universities including Cornell University, Princeton University, University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Stanford University. The journal’s evolution paralleled botanical milestones involving figures connected to the Darwin Centennial Exhibition, the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and collaborations with herbaria at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Botanic Garden of Meise.

Scope and Content

Content spans plant physiology studies often linked to researchers from Carnegie Institution for Science, molecular biology reports connected to labs at Max Planck Society institutes, and ecology pieces with contributors associated with the Ecological Society of America and the World Wildlife Fund. Topics include taxonomy and systematics engaging specialists from New York Botanical Garden and Missouri Botanical Garden, paleobotany work related to collections at Smithsonian Institution and Natural History Museum, London, and conservation research aligning with the IUCN and the Nature Conservancy. The journal publishes work by investigators connected to universities such as University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of British Columbia, and McGill University, and features methodologies used in laboratories like those at Salk Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. Articles often cite collaborations with botanical gardens including Missouri Botanical Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and arboreta such as Arnold Arboretum.

Publication and Editorial Process

The journal is published monthly by the Botanical Society of America with an editorial board drawn from academics at institutions such as Ohio State University, Duke University, University of Florida, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, and Pennsylvania State University. Submissions undergo peer review employing reviewers affiliated with organizations like the American Society of Plant Biologists, Society for Experimental Biology, and international partners such as the German Botanical Society and the Botanical Society of Japan. The editorial workflow integrates standards influenced by committees such as the Committee on Publication Ethics, and digital dissemination leverages platforms used by publishers like Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford University Press, and Springer Nature. Special issues have featured guest editors from institutes such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography and have highlighted themes resonant with programs at agencies like the USDA and foundations such as the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is indexed in major bibliographic services including databases maintained by Clarivate Analytics (Web of Science), Scopus (Elsevier), and subject indexes produced by organizations such as BIOSIS and CAB International. Abstracting services used by libraries such as the Library of Congress and consortia including OCLC list content alongside entries in aggregators operated by ProQuest and EBSCO. Metadata practices align with standards promoted by bodies like CrossRef and indexing partners including the Directory of Open Access Journals where applicable.

Impact and Reception

Scholarly impact is measured via citation databases provided by Clarivate Analytics and Elsevier, and the journal’s articles have been influential in research programs at universities including University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Tokyo, and ETH Zurich. Reviews and commentaries referencing the journal have appeared in outlets linked to institutions such as the Royal Society and policy briefs by organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme. The journal’s role in advancing plant science has been recognized by members of societies including the Botanical Society of America and awardees of honors such as the Darwin Medal and recognitions from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Related Societies and Partnerships

The journal maintains formal and informal relationships with the Botanical Society of America, collaborates with the American Society of Plant Biologists, and coordinates meetings with organizations such as the Ecological Society of America and the International Association for Plant Taxonomy. Partnerships extend to botanical gardens including Missouri Botanical Garden and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, research institutes like the Smithsonian Institution and Max Planck Society, and publishers and indexing services including Wiley-Blackwell, Clarivate Analytics, and Scopus.

Category:Botany journals Category:Publications established in 1914