Words from the editors

We are pleased to present the first issue of Plant Diversity, a new international Plant Science journal focusing on evolutionary processes that create and maintain plant diversity. We believe that a journal devoted to understanding how plant diversity evolves and is maintained is highly needed. This understanding is impossible to achieve without integrated knowledge of the evolutionary processes acting at the molecular, cellular and whole plant level, and of the phenomena operating within plant populations and communities. This is why Plant Diversity will cover various aspects of plant science, encompassing evolutionary, phylogenetic, genomic and biogeographical studies at different taxonomic levels. In addition to research drawn from all plant groups, bryological, lichenological, mycological and phycological studies will also be considered. Yunnan is a renowned hotspot for plant biodiversity. More than half of all Chinese plant species, about 16,000, are found in Yunnan, and nearly half of these are endemic. In order to study the rich flora of Yunnan, Acta Botanica Yunnanica was established and published its first issue in 1979. In the beginning, the journal was focused on taxonomy, morphology, floristics and phytochemistry, and many important and highly cited papers were published. It became an impactful academic platform for botanical research in China. After achieving success and establishing its reputation as a Chinese journal, Acta Botanica Yunnanica wanted to increase its academic impact, not just in China, but internationally. Its namewas changed to Plant Diversity and Resources in 2011, and under the new name, articles were published in both Chinese and English. Now, with the foundation of the all-English Plant Diversity, the journal is entering a new and invigorating global phase, which will serve to disseminate its research findings to a broader, international community of plant scientists. An important step to providing Chinese plant scientists more exposure to the international scientific community would be publication of doctoral theses as English manuscripts.