The first two volumes of the Chinese Plant Names Index (CPNI) cover the years 2000 through 2009, with entries 1 through 5,516, and 2010 through 2017, with entries 5,517 through 10,795. A unique entry is generated for the specific name of each taxon in a specific publication. Taxonomic treatments cover all novelties at the rank of family, genus, species, subspecies, variety, form and named hybrid taxa, new name changes (new combinations and new names), new records, new synonyms and new typifications for vascular plants reported or recorded from China. Detailed information on the place of publication, including author, publication name, year of publication, volume, issue, and page number, are given in detail. Type specimens and collections information for the taxa and their distribution in China, as well as worldwide, are also provided. The bibliographies were compiled from 182 journals and 138 monographs or books published worldwide. In addition, more than 400 herbaria preserve type specimens of Chinese plants are also listed as an appendix.

This book can be used as a basic material for Chinese vascular plant taxonomy, and as a reference for researchers in biodiversity research, environmental protection, forestry and medicinal botany.