Botanical Sciences : an honorable fellow in the international assembly of botanical journals

Abstract

As in every field of scientific research, publication of new findings is a fundamental task of botanical investigations. Since its launching in 1944, Botanical Sciences (formerly Boletín de la Sociedad Botánica de México), the scientific periodical of the Botanical Society of Mexico, has played a major role in the dissemination of botanical knowledge, with a strong emphasis on Mexican plants and vegetation. In this essay, whose preparation was propelled by the publication of the 100th Volume of Botanical Sciences in 2022, we revisit this scientific periodical’s trajectory for almost eight decades of activity, during which it has become an honorable member of an international assembly of journals devoted to publishing research in all botanical subdisciplines. On this ground, we reflect on its future, pondering the challenges it faces, the need to adjust to emerging circumstances, and the opportunities created by current national and international editorial practices. Additionally, we provide a brief overview of the contents of the contributions included in this Special Issue, with emphasis on the main conclusions drawn by their authors. We hope that these articles will become key references guiding future work in their respective botanical subdisciplines.