The IOS continues to publish annual issues of the Repertorium Plantarum Succulentarum (RPS) and IOS Bulletin. The RPS, which is currently compiled by Drs U. Eggli, R. Nyffeler, and D. Zappi, includes a critical compilation of all new names and name changes of succulent plants published in the foregoing year, supported by a bibliography of relevant literature. The RPS represents an indispensable source of taxonomic information for all researchers dealing with succulent plants. The IOS Bulletin is an in-house publication for members, reporting on internal affairs of the IOS and on the research activities within the individual sections, abstracts of lectures presented at the congresses, and in some years a membership list.

Cactus and Succulent Conservation Action Plan

In 1997 the Conservation Section of the IOS, which functions in close collaboration with the IUCN/SSC Cacti and Succulents Specialist Group, produced the Cactus and Succulent Conservation Action Plan, under the editorship of Ms Sara Oldfield. It was launched at the San Marino IOS Inter-congress, where it was widely acclaimed as a significant milestone in the world's understanding of serious succulent conservation matters. It represents a significant tool for bodies attempting to coordinate succulent plant conservation and, for the first time, provides concrete proposals for preservation actions to safeguard the global cactus and succulent floras. The Action Plan begins with overviews of eight of the major succulent plant families, covering their distribution, diversity, threats and conservation status. The second part of the document describes and reviews existing conservation measures for succulent plants around the world and the third part provides accounts of those regions rich in succulents. Finally, and of great importance, a series of action proposals are given in the Plan. By implementing these, the maximum diversity of succulents will be saved, based on our present knowledge and understanding of threats and population dynamics. IOS members wrote most parts of the Action Plan, or contributed extensively to its content.

A PDF version of the Cactus and Succulent Plants Action Plan can be downloaded here:
[ActionPlan.pdf: 14.8 Mbytes]

CITES Cactaceae Checklist, 2nd edition

The 2nd edition of the CITES Cactaceae Checklist, produced by IOS member Dr David Hunt (UK), was published in 1999. This publication follows on the heels of the widely used and very successful 1st edition, which was out of print by 1999. This publication further builds on the consensus classification system for the Cactaceae, which was initiated under the auspices of the IOS more than a decade ago. This book is intended for use by CITES authorities and plant diversity specialists in general.The 2nd edition of the

The Euphorbiaceae Checklist book, which builds on the success of the Cactaceae Checklist, was published in 1997 by two IOS members, Ms Susan Carter Holmes and Dr Urs Eggli. It provides a comprehensive world checklist of the succulent Euphorbiaceae.
A CITES Checklist for two genera that are significant in the horticultural plant trade was published in 2001: Newton, L.E. & Rowley, G.D. CITES Aloe and Pachypodium Checklist. 160 pp. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants

One of the most significant accomplishments of IOS members was the publication of six volumes of the Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants  (informally called the “IOS Succulent Lexicon”).  This represents the culmination of a major effort by many IOS members to bring current all available information on a wide range of ‘other succulent’ families, including revised classifications and uniformly applied descriptions of all relevant genera and species.

The New Cactus Lexicon

Coordination of IOS Cactaceae Section members’ research efforts resulted in the two-volume publication, “The New Cactus Lexicon”, edited by D. Hunt, which was published in 2006. One volume contains updated nomenclature and descriptions of all cacti, and the second volume has photographs of almost all cacti.

Succulent Plants Research

IOS members contributed to a monograph on Cactaceae, subfamily Opuntioideae: Hunt, D. & Taylor, N. (Eds.) (2002) Studies in the Opuntioideae (Cactaceae). Succulent Plant Research. Volume 6.