Journal profile · Evolutionary Biology
Plant Systematics and Evolution
ISSN 0378-2697 · eISSN 1615-6110 · Springer Vienna · AUSTRIA · Monthly · Founded 1851
Plant Systematics and Evolution: CAS Zone 3 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.61; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,990; median 166 days to acceptance (88 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 41 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Plant Systematics and Evolution is published by Springer Vienna and is in Zone 3 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Botany and Plant Ecology Studies, Bryophyte Studies and Records and Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna, together about 35.7% of its articles. Its main subfields are Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Congratulations to Plant Systematics and Evolution on its 175th Anniversary in 2026! Plant Systematics and Evolution is an international journal dedicated to publication of peer-reviewed original papers and reviews on plant systematics in the broadest sense. The journal aims to bridge the specific subject areas in plant systematics and evolution, encompassing evolutionary, phylogenetic, genomic and biogeographical studies at the population and higher taxonomic levels. Taxonomic emphasis is on all land plant groups in a wide sense, including fungi and lichens. Fields of interest:
· plant systematics and taxonomy
· plant evolution
· biodiversity
· genetics
· genome evolution
· comparative and evolutionary genomics
· genome sequencing
· bioinformatics
· population genetics
· reproductive biology
· ecology
· biogeography
· palaeobotany
· ultrastructure
· cytology
· anatomy
· palynology
· and plant development. Plant Systematics and Evolution publishes original articles, review articles, invited review articles, new methods and resources, short communications, and special thematic issues. The journal does not levy page charges and provides free color in print.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Evolutionary Biology
Editor-in-chief Karol MarholdPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 8%); most named Czechia 5, Germany 4, Mainland China 2, Spain 2, South Africa 2 (26 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Botany and Plant Ecology StudiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences16.6%
- Bryophyte Studies and RecordsAgricultural and Biological Sciences10%
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and faunaAgricultural and Biological Sciences9.2%
- Medical Practices and RehabilitationHealth Professions7.7%
- Plant Diversity and EvolutionAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.9%
- Plant and animal studiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.2%
- Lichen and fungal ecologyAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.6%
- Plant Taxonomy and PhylogeneticsAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
CASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 1.61LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.7Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.6Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.1LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.4LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.93LetPub ·
- h-index
- 68LetPub ·
- h-index
- 113OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,837OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.67OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 5.9%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 30.83%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 41LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 298,600Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 18,026 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 55 | 24 | 19 |
| 2025 | 41 | 17 | 92 |
| 2024 | 48 | 19 | 129 |
| 2023 | 46 | 12 | 233 |
| 2022 | 38 | 9 | 251 |
| 2021 | 72 | 14 | 603 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
166 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 112 days – 255 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 44 days (88 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 219 days
- Sample
- 88 articles with submission and acceptance dates (114 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 3–8 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 8 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer review, Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,990 / EUR 2,990 / GBP 2,590 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | No APC | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 4,000 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted9, with length limits
- editorialAll papers must focus on timely research which provides new insights into aspects of plant systematics and evolution. The topic should be original and of genera…Length not stated
- hypothesisAll papers must focus on timely research which provides new insights into aspects of plant systematics and evolution. The topic should be original and of genera…Length not stated
- original researchAll papers must focus on timely research which provides new insights into aspects of plant systematics and evolution. The topic should be original and of genera…Length not stated
- original research articlesOriginal research articles present the results of empirical and theoretical investigations, addressing clear questions or hypotheses in plant systematics and ev…Length not stated
- reviewAll papers must focus on timely research which provides new insights into aspects of plant systematics and evolution. The topic should be original and of genera…Length not stated
- review articleAll papers must focus on timely research which provides new insights into aspects of plant systematics and evolution. The topic should be original and of genera…Length not stated
- review articlesReview Articles survey recent developments and major advances in the field of plant systematics and genome evolution.Length not stated
- short communicationAll papers must focus on timely research which provides new insights into aspects of plant systematics and evolution. The topic should be original and of genera…main text ≤ 4,000 words
- short communicationsShort communications These are short papers reporting significant new findings that do not warrant standard full-length treatment with the usual main headings, …Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Plant Systematics and Evolution, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Single-blind peer review Model summary
This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Vienna
- Country or region
- AUSTRIA
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1851
- ISSN
- 0378-2697
- Electronic ISSN
- 1615-6110
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Plant Systematics and Evolution
What CAS zone is Plant Systematics and Evolution in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Plant Systematics and Evolution is in Zone 3 of Biology, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Plant Sciences / Evolutionary Biology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Plant Systematics and Evolution?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.61; CiteScore 3.1, h-index 113.
How long does peer review take at Plant Systematics and Evolution?
Based on the dates recorded on 88 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 166 days (interquartile range 112–255 days); authors report an average review time of 3–8 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Plant Systematics and Evolution?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Manuscript length: ≤ 4,000 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Plant Systematics and Evolution based?
Of the 26 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 8%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Czechia (5), Germany (4) and Mainland China (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Plant Systematics and Evolution?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Plant Systematics and Evolution is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Plant Systematics and Evolution open access, and what is the APC?
Plant Systematics and Evolution is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,990.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .