Request for Proposal

Plant Genus Description – Content Creation

v.2.0.3-20220719

Writing Guide: https://article.picturethisai.com/writing-guide/

 

Update (July 19, 2022)
  • Placeholders are not required to be edited from Authors generally. The common name you write in a sentence should be Exactly the same as displayed on the page (including the situation you believe it’s incorrect). However, if there is not a common name displayed on the page, please use a placeholder.
What's this content for?

This task is to create a series of creative content describing genus-level plant units. These pieces of content will show to our users when we identified to the genus level, so we should avoid detailed species-level information.

In these pieces of content, we would like to give the users a general understanding of the whole genus: are they commonly used in some fields, their breeding/cultivation history, representing species/cultivars, etc. (but NOT the taxonomical characters).

Requirements

1. General Requirements:

1.1 Word Count: Each description should consist of around 50 words. (For Japanese and Korean, around 100 characters, for Chinese, around 80.

1.2 Introduce the genus as a whole, instead of a collection of unrelated plants. Try to find the commonplaces of the plants in the genus and key unique traits. E.g.: azaleas actually consist of several species and their crossed offsprings, but introductions often treat them as a whole. we’d like to have genus introductions like this.

1.3  Avoid talking about only one or a few species of the genus.

1.4  Avoid Formulaic Expression: Try to change the choice of content and expression appropriately, preventing similar content with a similar structure from appearing repeatedly within one working set. Overly formulaic content (>50% content is written in the same form) will be rejected.

1.5  Avoid simple listing: including but not limited to geographical distribution and habitat. Try to use generalized terms, e. g., we should use “Northeast Asia” instead of “Japan, Korea, Inner Mongolia, and Russian Far East”. A simple listing of more than 3 items (countries, habitats) at one time is NOT ALLOWED.

1.6  Avoid botanical terms: remember most readers have no biological background. If in some cases you have to use some, please simply explain them.

1.7  Sufficient Facts: Each description should consist of 2 or more facts in different aspects.

2.  Fact

2.1 These topics are encouraged (Dos):

  • If there’s any commonplace in the plants within the genus that connects to our daily life (e.g.: Rhododengons are used as ornamental plants, and many Brassica species are cultivated as vegetables), it will be a great topic.
  • Edibility, but be aware that when talking about the edibility of some genus, a reliable reference is needed. Make sure to use the expression of “some species of this genus are edible” or sth like this, unless you have a piece of strong evidence or have checked all the species.
    Special attention should be taken when there are some toxic species in the same genus. In this case, “Some species of this genus are edible, such as A, B, and C, while E, F are toxic” is a recommended expression.
  • Unique structural features, blooming season (if in common), growth form, habitat preferred, or some other characteristic biological features.

2.2  Do not mention these pieces of information (Don’ts)

  • Scientific synonym, alternative common name. These names are listed in our system in another section, please DO NOT mention them unless there’s an interesting name story behind it.
  • Please TRY NOT to list species contained in the genus unless (1) when talking about which are edible and which are toxic or (2) when there’s only one species under the genus.
  • Taxonomy information is neither interesting to common readers nor can it be wrong (because of the taxonomy system that has changed frequently recently), please DO NOT mention it here.
  • Any form of medicinal use is NOT allowed in this section.
  • Detailed measurements and botanical descriptions are NOT recommended.
  • Definite species number contained in the genus is NOT suggested to mention because the number may be different in different taxonomy systems. But an approximate number or order of magnitude (hundreds, thousands, etc.) CAN be provided.
  • Widely cited “NASA Research” supporting the air-cleaning effects of plants is flawed. The air-cleaning efficiency of all the plants is later proven to be too low to be practical. Using any plant to absorb toxic chemicals in your room is not realistic, so please DO NOT mention any air-cleaning effects of plants in this section.
Special Attentions
  • Local information in your country is highly recommended
  • Use common names instead of Latin names whenever possible
  • Italicize any Latin words (except the ones already represented by placeholders) that appear (e.g., genus names, etc.)
  • If there’s only one species under the genus, you could (1) declare there’s only one species, then (2) describe the species contained briefly.
  • If you believe that the common name of the writing target is wrong (including singular or plural form), please Report it in the link below and we will change it in time.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vO4wADpXiyJdfwnO4FWJiu0CL_1etZ4zdxapqGraE2U/edit?usp=sharing

Example of Plant Genus Description in English

【The text inside brackets is just for explanation】

  • Grape hyacinths (Muscari) 45 words
    Grape hyacinths grow from bulbs and reproduce rapidly 【common growth characteristics】. These plants produce spikes of dense, grape-shaped flowers that provide vivid color for most of the spring blooming season 【structure feature and blooming time】. Their musk-like fragrance, colorful blossoms, and little maintenance requirements make them popular plants for gardeners and plant enthusiasts 【their garden usage】.