Plant artefacts
Discover Kew's historic plant artefact collection, begun in 1847 by Sir William Hooker. This fascinating global collection includes around 85,000 artefacts including herbal medicines, food and fibres. The collection illustrates the extent of human use of plants around the world, and the huge variety of objects range from paper to weapons and clothing to medicines.
Economic Botany blog
An ethnobotanical new year
by: Mark Nesbitt, Economic Botany blog 25 Oct 2011
This autumn Kew welcomed the 14th intake of students into the joint University of Kent/Kew MSc in Ethnobotany. In a packed two days the students were introduced to Kew's collections, had an intensive day of plant-collecting, and heard this year's Distinguished Ethnobotanist lecture.
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Conservators care for tapa cloth at Kew
by: Daniel Barter & Cristina Liria, Economic Botany blog 15 Aug 2011
Two conservation students from Camberwell College of Arts have spent three weeks surveying barkcloth specimens from the Pacific.
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Welcome to Stephen Hopper's blog
by: Prof. Stephen Hopper, Director's blog 04 Dec 2009
A successful 250th anniversary year for Kew.
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Time for a change
by: Joanne Seaton, Director's blog 24 Jun 2011
Find out about the Gallery team's work and how they are preparing for the upcoming exhibition in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery, at Kew Gardens.
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Artefact of the month
This hat was collected for Kew by Richard Spruce in the 1890s. These practical hats are both flexible and durable. It was made in the Pueblo de Monagas region of the Amazonas from the leaves of either the bera or arrow grass. The rough cuticle is scraped off the leaves which are then cut into strips and woven.
Economic Botany Collection
In-depth information about Kew's Economic Botany Collection. Find out more about the artefacts and Kew's research.
