International Organization for Succulent Plant Study

International Organization for Succulent Plant Study
Formation1950
Executive Board President
Dr. Héctor M. Hernández
Websitehttp://succulentresearch.org/

The International Organization for Succulent Plant Study (IOS) describes itself as a "non-governmental organization promoting the study and conservation of succulent and allied plants and encouraging collaboration among scientists and curators of significant living collections of such plants, professional or amateur."[1] In 1984, it was decided that the Cactaceae Section of the IOS should set up a working party, now called the International Cactaceae Systematics Group (ICSG), to produce consensus classifications of cacti down to the level of genera. Their system has been used as the basis of subsequent classifications.[2]


The IOS focuses on global research and conservation of the succulent plant families (Agavaceae, Aloaceae, Cactaceae, Crassulaceae, Portulacaceae, Talinaceae).[3] It later became the first plant conservation organization with a strict code of conduct for all members to follow, detailing principles to conduct field research, specimen collection, maintenance and management of field collected materials.[3]

  1. ^ International Organization for Succulent Plant Study, Introduction, retrieved 2012-02-08
  2. ^ Anderson, Edward F. (2001), The Cactus Family, Pentland, Oregon: Timber Press, ISBN 978-0-88192-498-5, pp. 99–103
  3. ^ a b "About Us | IOS". Retrieved 2022-03-31.