Cookie & Local Storage Policy
Last Updated & Effective: January 1, 2026. A comprehensive, technical overview of how our botanical site utilizes cookies, session tokens, and local web storage.
1. What Are Cookies & Web Storage Mechanisms?
Cookies are small alphanumeric text files placed on your computer, smartphone, or tablet when you navigate modern websites. They allow our web servers to recognize your device across subsequent page loads, maintain security sessions, remember consent selections, and observe aggregated site traffic patterns.
In addition to conventional HTTP cookies, this website utilizes modern localStorage APIs to store persistent user states without transmitting redundant data payloads with every single server request.
2. Our Persistent Consent Logic
When you first enter showusmeastoryscope.rest, our system renders an unobtrusive consent banner at the bottom of the viewport. When you interact with this interface:
- Accept All: A persistent key (`showusmeastoryscope_cookie_consent = 'all_accepted'`) is stored locally. The banner disappears immediately and will not render again during your session or upon subsequent page refreshes.
- Reject Non-Essential: A key (`showusmeastoryscope_cookie_consent = 'essential_only'`) is stored. All optional analytical monitoring is permanently blocked while strictly essential functional elements continue to operate.
3. Comprehensive Classification Table of Cookies Used
The following table outlines every specific data tracking and state element utilized on our platform:
| Identifier Name | Category | Lifespan | Operational Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
showusmeastoryscope_cookie_consent |
Essential (LocalStorage) | Persistent (1 Year) | Stores user consent choice (All vs Essential) so the GDPR consent banner does not re-appear on reload. |
_cfuvid / __cf_bm |
Essential (Security) | Session to 30 Mins | Cloudflare bot mitigation and rate-limiting to protect botanical databases from scrapers. |
sm_session_token |
Functional | Session (Browser close) | Preserves user input states when toggling between morphological diagnostic tabs. |
_ga / _ga_stat |
Analytics (Optional) | 12 Months | Aggregated, anonymized statistics measuring reader retention across research articles (Disabled upon Rejection). |
4. How to Manage & Disable Cookies in Your Browser
In addition to our on-page consent mechanism, you can modify, restrict, or completely delete cookies at any time directly through your web browser settings. Please note that disabling essential technical cookies may prevent certain interactive identification features from functioning correctly:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies → Manage exceptions and site data.
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection → Custom → Cookies.
- Apple Safari: Settings → Safari → Advanced → Block All Cookies.
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data.
5. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We periodically review this policy to reflect modifications in our technical architecture, new research tools, or evolving European data protection guidelines. Any revisions will be published on this page with an updated revision date.