"Hundreds of scientific journals already exist for the dissemination of research on botany and ecology (including several fine publications based in Utah and the west). Nonetheless, space and financial constraints prevent many useful papers from being published in first and second-tier journals, relegating such work to the gray literature. In June 2012, the board of the Utah Native Plant Society (UNPS) recognized the need for a peer-reviewed, electronic journal for unpublished gray-literature reports that pertain to Utah botany and vegetation. The board voted to establish an annual, technical journal that would complement its bimonthly member’s magazine, the Sego Lily. The objective of the new publication, named Calochortiana (“of or relating to Calochortus or Sego Lily”, the state floral emblem of Utah), is to provide a forum for professional and amateur scientists to share their findings on Utah botany and ecology with their colleagues. Calochortiana will focus primarily on monitoring or status surveys of rare species, seed propagation protocols, floristic checklists, genetic studies, vegetation mapping, natural history research, or other topics that might not otherwise be accepted in existing journals. All submissions will be peer-reviewed and the journal made available for free on the UNPS website. The journal is put together by an all-volunteer editorial board, though supported by UNPS. Readers, of course, are encouraged to show their appreciation by becoming members of UNPS!"