The source of current research in classical and modern systematic botany for readers throughout the world. It contains primary research papers in fields such as anatomy, biogeography, chemotaxonomy, ecology, evolution, floristics, genetics, paleobotany, palynology, and phylogenetic systematics. SCB is published twice a year, usually with more than 150-200 pages per issue.
Papers appear in English or Spanish, with abstracts in both languages.
All papers are peer reviewed and are frequently illustrated with maps and line drawings, frequently with full color. Each issue also includes short communications on floristic discoveries, book reviews, and notices of new publications. The name was chosen by Lloyd H. Shinners because it belongs to a plant group that is found around the world. The word sida may come from sid -, one of the Latin words forstar. Dr. Shinners began privately publishing Sida, Contributions to Botany in 1962.