The ING is intended to be an aid to a more stable nomenclature. It does this by providing to its users a number of services, the most important of which are: 1. A list of validly published scientific names of all plant genera, recent and fossil (but not bacteria), 2. Correct citation of the authors to whom these names must be attributed, 3. Reference to the place and time of the first valid publication of these names, 4. A record of existing homonymy, 5. An indication of taxonomic placement, 6. and, insofar as possible, the ING gives information concerning the names, e.g. conservation, typification, nomenclatural status. The ING is a compilation of previously published information. It is not inteded that these volumes will publish new combinations, new lectotypifications or substitute names or effect a change in the status of a taxon.