How to cite efloraofindia in scientific publications

eFI has grown to a big database which can be cited in scientific publications.
On this what I found at the Home page is:
Due credits/ attributions/ citation are to be given as below:
“Efloraofindia (2007-2016) SUBJECT OF THE PAGE. Accessed from LINK (on DATE)
e.g. Efloraofindia (2007-2016). Accessed from Paphiopedilum spicerianum (on 18 March 2016)”
However, I feel that it may be further modified (if we all feel so) to:
eFI (2006 onwards). Efloraofindia. Published on the internet at / (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR).
Just following the citation of The Plant List 2013.
Or there may be other appropriate style in the mind of our moderator/ pillars.

It looks good, …!

Thanks a lot, … I want to make a minor change to
“Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Published on the internet at / (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR).”

Yes it is OK!

In this style we need not to write name twice, eFI and Efloraofindia, as in my style.

Interestingly, online Indian flora by BSI is also named as ‘eFlora of India‘ but they have yet not mentioned ‘How to Cite’.

No, some how this doesnt fit in. You have author, year, but no title. Author is author of what??

I could not follow you.

In a proper citation there are four important parts

AUTHOR (Efloraofindia)
YEAR OF PUBLICATION (2006 onwards)
TITLE (????)
PAGE OR WEBPAGE LINK: [Published on the internet at / (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR)]

Currently Due credits/ attributions/ citation are to be given as below:
“Efloraofindia (2007-2016) SUBJECT OF THE PAGE. Accessed from LINK (on DATE)
e.g. Efloraofindia (2007-2016). Accessed from Paphiopedilum spicerianum (on 18 March 2016)”
I think here title is the subject of the page.

Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Title. Published on the internet at / (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR).”

Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Paphiopedilum spicerianum. Published on the internet at https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!searchin/indiantreepix/Paphiopedilum$20spicerianum/indiantreepix/hKE3DN7x2o0/4sPTwKqir00J (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR).

to cite the whole website:

Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Efloraofindia. Published on the internet at https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/indiantreepix (accessed on 23/07/2016).

The another option could be:

Efloraofindia group (2006 onwards). Efloraofindia. Published on the internet at https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/indiantreepix (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR).

for whole website.
Efloraofindia group (2006 onwards). Paphiopedilum spicerianum in Efloraofindia. Published on the internet at https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!searchin/indiantreepix/Paphiopedilum$20spicerianum/indiantreepix/hKE3DN7x2o0/4sPTwKqir00J (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR).

for individual page.

Considering that ‘Efloraofindia group’ is author and document is ‘Efloraofindia’. In this way we have author name different than the title. AND the authors of this website are large group of people contributing their bits and the group itself is recognized group on net.

May be a separate page/ paragraph at Home page may be added on ‘How to Cite’ explaining the author part.

I personally like this one better. May others also give their feedback.

It is turning out to be very interesting.

Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Eflora of India. Published on the internet at https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/indiantreepix (accessed on 23/07/2016).
How about this?

why not say that its a group
spell it out before people have  time to read the link name
(not saying but implying that its a totally volunteer albeit a group of like minded educated and often academic botanists and scientists and  citizen scientists and enthusiasts)

not the so called official eflora – india

which is  a ???BSI site?

With the following changes:
Efloraofindia group (2006 onwards). Efloraofindia. Published on the internet at / (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR).
for whole website.
Efloraofindia group (2006 onwards). Paphiopedilum spicerianum in Efloraofindia. Published on the internet at /species/m—z/o/orchidaceae/paphiopedilum/paphiopedilum-spicerianum (accessed on DD/MM/YEAR).

for individual page.

Considering that ‘Efloraofindia group’ is author and document is ‘Efloraofindia’. In this way we have author name different than the title. AND the authors of this website are large group of people contributing their bits and the group itself is recognized group on net.

May be a separate page/ paragraph at Home page may be added on ‘How to Cite’ explaining the author part.

I am ok with … suggestion for the time being:

Efloraofindia group (2006 onwards). Efloraofindia. Published on the internet at / (accessed on 25/07/2016). for whole website.
Efloraofindia group (2006 onwards). Paphiopedilum spicerianum. On: Efloraofindia, published on the internet at /species/m—z/o/orchidaceae/paphiopedilum/paphiopedilum-spicerianum (accessed on 25/07/2016). for particular page

We don’t have to worry about BSI because their link is different.

I think it would be better to use a single-worded ‘author’ name. Because, when you use two words, the reference databases (I tested with EndNote) will consider this as first and second names of an author and will automatically initialize the first name.

For example, if we enter “Efloraofindia Group”, it will take as “Efloraofindia G” or “G. Efloraofindia”, etc. depending on the format used. Manual writing/editing is not always feasible. When cited within text using the software, it displays “(Group, 1996 onwards)”.

To avoid this confusion, we can consider the examples by Rawat ji or Pankaj. As Usha di suggested, we have to give a little bit information about the database. Here is my suggestion:
————————–

eFI (2006 onwards). Efloraofindia – an online database of Indian plants developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google group. Accessed at / on 25 July 2016.
————————–

This will also eliminate the confusion with BSI’s e-flora of India.
And, I agree with the idea of giving homepage URL rather than that of specific page/s.

I agree with Vijay’s suggestion.

Some journal are very specific about the page, e.g., Phytotaxa, they want specific page to be cited, even from the books and journals, hence when needed, the reference of specific page has to be cited as per the requirement of one who needs and the journal.

Adding here a case of group publication for perusal:

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 161, 105–121. With 1 figure

An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III

THE ANGIOSPERM PHYLOGENY GROUP*

Recommended citation: APG III (2009). This paper was compiled by Birgitta Bremer, Kåre Bremer, Mark W. Chase, Michael F. Fay, James L. Reveal, Douglas E. Soltis, Pamela S. Soltis and Peter F.

Stevens, who were equally responsible and listed here in alphabetical order only, with contributions from Arne A. Anderberg, Michael J. Moore, Richard G. Olmstead, Paula J. Rudall, Kenneth J.

Sytsma, David C. Tank, Kenneth Wurdack, Jenny Q.-Y. Xiang and Sue Zmarzty (in alphabetical order). Addresses: B. Bremer, The Bergius Foundation at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, PO

Box 50017, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden; K. Bremer, Vice Chancellor, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; M. W. Chase, M. F. Fay, Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,

Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DS, UK; J. L. Reveal, L.H. Bailey Hortorium, Department of Plant Biology, 412 Mann Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4301, USA; D. E. Soltis, Department of

Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611–8525, USA; P. S. Soltis, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611–7800, USA; and P. F. Stevens,

Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis and Missouri Botanical Garden, PO Box 299, St. Louis, Missouri 63166–0299, USA

Received 12 August 2009; accepted for publication 18 August 2009

And how they cite it:

APG III. 2009. An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161: 105–121.

And accordingly, can we slightly modify our citation as:

eFIG (2006 onwards). Efloraofindia – an online database of Indian plants developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google group (eFIG). Accessed at / on 25 July 2016.

In this way the correct author name will be stated in it in my opinion.

Thanks, … Why not the following as we are better known by Efloraofindia rather than eFI (as any confusion regarding this not from BSI, has already been removed):
Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Efloraofindia – an online database of Indian plants developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google group. Accessed at / on 25 July 2016

This is fine, … , except that the word ‘Efloraofindia’ is repeated thrice.
On a different note, but still relevant to the ongoing discussion:
I think it is time to give a new name to the database, mainly to differentiate it from the group’s name. Just an idea!
Here are my suggestions:
1). Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Database of Indian Plants – developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google group. Accessed at / on 25 July 2016
[or]
2). Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). People’s Flora of India – a database of Indian Plants developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google group. Accessed at / on 25 July 2016
The group’s name and the URL will remain the same but the database will have its own name. Please share your ideas and suggestions.

There is already a different name to the database, as simple as e-Flora of India. Group name is efloraofindia. 🙂

Secondly you are citing google site in the link but naming google group in the text. Please remember that group is not editable but more mails can be added to the threads. On the other hand google site is editable especially the textual part, except the links which connects it to google group ultimately.

So I had an idea:
Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). e-Flora of India: a collaborative database by scientists and citizen scientists for Efloraofindia Google group. Accessed at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/indiantreepix on 25 July 2016

Thanks, …
I personally feel the following as better:
Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Database of Indian Plants – developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google group. Accessed at ………………………………………………………….. on 25 July 2016
in the blanks may be decided.
Leaving aside any technical point, I feel / is better if we can manage to keep it anyway. 

Our group name “efloraofindia” is already well-established and originated before BSI’s online publication which is called “eFlora of India”. If we use the same term for our database, it might cause confusions and will also be a repetition of our group name.
Yes, we cite the google site and use the group name as author. We consider our google site as the database as envisioned by Garg ji mainly because the forum discussions are regularly compiled and consolidated here. As you mentioned, the readers will be able to reach to the original posts in google group through the provided links. So, I think the site homepage should be the URL in the citation.
Thanks …, for supporting my suggested citation:
Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). Database of Indian Plants – developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google group. Accessed at / on [25 July 2016 (replace with current date)].
If we all agree to this, a line (subtitle) reading “Database of Indian Plants – developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google Group” may be added to the sites home page, next to the heading “efloraofindia”.
Please share your thoughts.

Thanks, Vijayasankar ji.
If we all agree to this, a line (subtitle) reading “Database of Indian Plants – developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google Group” may be added to the sites home page, next to the heading “efloraofindia”– I think it is a very good suggestion.

Agree to the proposal.

Thanks to … for initiating this discussion, and you all for constructive suggestions and support.
Thanks, …
I must thanks you, … for such constructive discussions & outcome.
I have made changes accordingly & these are reflected at Copyrights, Permissions, Credits page as well as at the home page.
Following still needs to be done:
If we all agree to this, a line (subtitle) reading “Database of Indian Plants – developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google Group” may be added to the sites home page, next to the heading “efloraofindia”.

Database of Indian Plants – developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google Group has also been incorporated at home page in the logo.
Pl. see. If any one can try in any better way, they are most welcome to experiment.

Please check if the attached image suits our purpose.

Thanks, … I think it’s better. I have replaced it at home page.

Looks good to me.

Homepage logo now looks complete

makes us unique

differentiates us from the BSI efl etc etc

…, it s good

I have been hinting at this for a while i like it

love this

… says: So I had an idea:
Efloraofindia (2006 onwards). e-Flora of India: a collaborative database by scientists and citizen scientists for Efloraofindia Google group. Accessed at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/indiantreepix 

on 25 July 2016

but there will be times when a researcher needs to cite our “case”  one only

not the long list in that page or the whole database

he or she will have to give the url for the particulasr “case”

and that’s the norm in medical literature,

in neutracuticals journals

in natural medicine journals

in complementary medicine journals

in aromatherapy papers
in herbal medicine journals
other botanically relevant journals

and even BMJ Lancet etc

citing pages from the net is very common now

we need to give instructions for too

spell it out  for the possible citation

while i am at this desktop
i think the logo and its accompanying sentence….

sentence needs to mention scientists and citizen scientists…

first Scientists  to spell out the we are not a ragtag non professional group that springs up on the net pellmell

and

Citizen scientists... to spell out that we are all people from all walks of life serious about the science of botany
===

lets face it we are unique
we need to convey that

in the most

non-boastful way
lets think about it…

Thanks, …
I have taken care of some of your concerns in the following:
/copyrights-permissions-credits-etc

I have further modified it with text added as a text (i.e. Database of Indian Plants – developed by the members of Efloraofindia Google Group added as text & not an image) so that it can be seen fully in any size of the window, which was not possible earlier due it being in an image.
Pl. give your feedback for any changes, if required.

Perfectly okay to me, …

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