Plants & Fungi A-Z

These illustrated profiles contain a wealth of facts, including details on conservation, uses and habitats – as well as Kew’s connections with the species. They have been chosen to:

• inspire interest in plants
• detail our science and conservation work
• showcase star plants in the Gardens
• feature in Kew events

 This is a constantly growing resource with new profiles added every week - so do be sure to check back regularly.

A      Abelia parvifolia (Schumann abelia) | Abutilon ranadei | Acacia anegadensis (poke-me-boy) |
         Acacia baileyana (Cootamundra wattle) | Acacia karroo (sweet thorn) | Acacia mangium (brown salwood) |
         Acacia menabeensis | Acacia nilotica (acacia) | Acacia torrei | Acanthus syriacus (Syrian acanthus) |
         Acer griseum (paperbark maple) | Actinidia deliciosa (kiwi fruit) | Actinidia kolomikta (kolomikta vine) |
         Agaricus arvensis (horse mushroom) | Agrostis trachychlaena (bentgrass) | Alcantarea hatschbachii |
         Allamanda cathartica (golden trumpet vine) |
         Allium siculum (Sicilian honey garlic) | Allium sphaerocephalon (round-headed leek) |
         Alocasia macrorrhizos (elephant ear taro) | Aloe ciliaris (climbing aloe) | Aloe dichotoma (quiver tree) |
         Aloe ferox (Cape aloes) |Aloe marlothii (mountain aloe) | Aloe plicatilis (fan aloe) | Aloe vera (aloe vera) |
         Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) | Amorphophallus titanum (titan arum) | Anemone halleri (Haller's anemone) |
         Angelica archangelica (angelica) | Angraecum sesquipedale (Christmas star orchid) |
         Anigozanthos flavidus (evergreen kangaroo paw) | Anogramma ascensionis (Ascension Island parsley fern) |
         Anthurium scherzerianum (flamingo flower) | Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) | Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle) |
         Arisaema consanguineum | Arisaema jacquemontii (Jacquemont's cobra lily) | Aristolochia grandiflora (pelican flower) |
         Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) | Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit) | Arum pictum | Asarum asaroides |
         Astragalus sinuatus (Whited's milkvetch) | Avena sativa (oat)

B     Banksia integrifolia (coast banksia) | Barleria aristata | Bellis perennis (daisy) | Berkheya purpurea (purple berkheya) |
         Betula pendula (silver birch) | Berlinia korupensis | Boesenbergia rotunda (fingerroot) | Boswellia sacra (frankincense) |
         Brachystephanus africanus | Brenierea insignis (andrabe) | Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry) |
         Bulbophyllum macranthum | Bulbophyllum nocturnum

C    Caliphruria tenera (Amazon lily) |Callicarpa argentii | Calocybe gambosa (St George's mushroom) |
        Caloncoba welwitschii | Calvatia gigantea (giant puffball) |Camassia leichtlinii (great camas) |
        Camellia sasanqua (Christmas camellia) | Camellia sinensis (tea) | Camillea leprieurii | Camoensia brevicalyx |
        Campanula betulifolia (birch-leaved bellflower) | Campanula thyrsoides (yellow bellflower) |
        Canarina canariensis (Canary bell-flower) | Carapichea lucida |
        Carpinus fangiana (Fang's hornbeam) | Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut) |
        Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) | Celmisia spectabilis (cotton daisy) |
        Centaurea montana (perennial cornflower) | Chamaegigas intrepidus | Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet) |
        Chlorophytum tuberosum (musli) | Clathrus archeri (devil's fingers) | Clerodendrum paniculatum (pagoda flower) |
        Cochlospermum orinocense (Tefé rose) | Codonopsis tangshen (bellflower) | Coffea ambongensis |
        Coffea arabica (coffee) | Coffea pterocarpa | Colophospermum mopane (mopane) |
        Commiphora guidottii (scented myrrh) | Crassula coccinea (red crassula) |
        Crinum brachynema (karnaphul) | Crinum purpurescens (starry crinum) |
        Crinum woodrowii (Woodrow's crinum lily) | Crocus baytopiorum | Curcuma roscoeana (jewel of Burma) |
       Crocus sieberi (Sieber's crocus) | Cylindrocline lorencei | Cylindropuntia imbricata (tree cholla) |
        Cymbidium hookerianum | Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) | Cyphelium notorisii (soot lichen) |
        Cypripedium calceolus (lady's slipper orchid) | Cyrtostachys bakeri  | Cyttaria darwinii (Darwin's fungus)

D     Dalbergia andapensis (hazovola) | Delonix decaryi (fengoky) | Delonix regia (flamboyant) | Dendrobium aphyllum |
         Dendrobium daklakense | Dendrobium nobile (noble dendrobium) | Deschampsia cespitosa (tufted hair-grass) |
         Dianthus carthusianorum (Carthusian pink) | Dicksonia antarctica (Australian tree fern) |
         Digitalis purpurea (common foxglove) | Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) | Dioscorea bako (bako) |
         Dioscorea elephantipes (elephant's foot yam) | Dioscorea orangeana (Angona) | Dioscorea strydomiana |
         Dodonaea viscosa (hopbush) | Doronicum orientale (leopard's bane) | Dransfieldia micrantha |
         Drimia maritima (maritime squill) | Dypsis ankirindro | Dypsis brevicaulis | Dypsis gronophyllym | Dypsis humilis |
         Dypsis makirae

E     Ecbolium tanzaniense | Echinocereus stramineus (strawberry cactus) | Edgeworthia chrysantha (Oriental paper bush) |
         Encephalartos altensteinii (Eastern cape giant cycad) | Encephalartos tegulaneus (lpision) |
         Encephalartos woodii (Wood's cycad) | Encholirium agavoides | Encholirium ctenophyllum |
         Ensete lasiocarpa (golden lotus banana) | Ensete ventricosum (Ethiopian banana) |
         Epidendrum montserratense (Montserrat orchid) | Epimedium flavum (barrenwort) |
         Epimedium perralderianum (barrenwort) | Erythrina senegalensis (coral tree) | Eucalyptus brandiana |
         Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian blue gum) |  Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum) | Eucalyptus sweedmaniana |
         Euonymus latifolius (large-leaved spindle) | Euphorbia caput-medusae (Medusa's head) |
         Euphorbia stricta (upright spurge) | Euryops pectinatus (golden daisy bush)

F     Fagus sylvatica (copper beech) | Felicia amelloides (blue marguerite) | Ficus benghalensis (banyan) |
         Filipendula rubra (queen of the prairie) | Forsythia suspensa (weeping forsythia) | Frerea indica |
         Fritillaria meleagris (snake's head fritillary) | Fritillaria thunbergii (Thunberg's fritillary)

G     Galanthus nivalis (common snowdrop) | Galanthus woronowii (snowdrop) | Galium aparine (cleavers) | Gardenia nitida |
         Gardenia thumbergia (white gardenia) | Gazania linearis (treasure flower) | Gentiana acaulis (stemless gentian) |
         Geranium farreri (Farrer's geranium) | Geranium macrorrhizum (rock crane's bill) | Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree) |
         Gladiolus dzhavaketicus (sword lily) | Gloriosa superba (flame lily) | Gmelina arborea (gamhar) |
         Grevillea robusta (silky oak) | Guibourtia ehie (black hyedua) | Gymnosiphon afro-orientalis 

H    Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw) | Heliamphora nutans (Venezuelan marsh pitcher) | Helixanthera schizocalyx |
         Helleborus thibetanus (tie kuai zi) | Hemerocallis fulva (orange daylily) | Hericium erinaceus (bearded tooth) |
         Hevea brasiliensis (rubber) | Hoodia gordonii  | Houttuynia cordata (heart-leaved houttuynia) |
         Hyacinthoides non-scripta (bluebell)

I      Ilex aquifolium (common holly) | Ilex fargesii (Farges's holly) | Imperata cylindrica (alang-alang) | Iris afghanica |
         Iris japonica (fringed iris) | Iris latifolia (English iris) | Iris sibirica (Siberian iris) | Iris variegata (Hungarian iris) |
         Isoberlinia doka (doka) | Isoetes eludens | Isoglossa variegata 

J      Jasminum leptophyllum | Jubaea chilensis (Chilean wine palm) | Justicia brandegeeana (shrimp plant)

K    Kalanchoe schimperiana | Kerianthera longiflora | Khaosokia caricoides (Khaosok sedge) | Kigelia africana (sausage tree) |
         Kniphofia caulescens (Lesotho red hot poker)

L     Lagarastrobos franklinii (Huon pine) | Lamium album (white deadnettle) | Lamium maculatum (spotted dead-nettle) |
         Lathraea clandestina (purple toothwort) | Lavandula dentata (fringed lavendar) | Lavandula minutolii |
         Lepidagathis fischeri | Leratiomyces ceres (redlead roundhead) | Leucocoprinus birnbaumii (potplant dapperling) |
         Leucojum vernum (spring snowflake) | Lewisia rediviva (biterroot) | Limonium arborescens (tree sea lavender) |
         Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle) | Luronium natans (floating water-plantain) |
         Lycoperdon perlatum (common puffball) 

M    Magnistipula multinervia | Mascarenhasia arborescens | Massonia depressa (hedgehog lily) | Mastigostyla chuquisacensis |
         Mastigostyla torotoroensis | Mastigostyla woodii | Medemia argun (argun palm) | Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) |
         Mellissia begoniifolia (St Helena boxwood) | Melocactus conoideus | Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant) |
         Monodora myristica (calabash nutmeg) | Morchella esculenta (common morel) | Musa itinerans (Yunnan banana) |
         Myriostoma coliforme (pepperpot earthstar)

N    Narcissus cantabricus (white hoop petticoat daffodil) | Narcissus pseudonarcissus (daffodil) |
        Nelumbo nucifera (sacred lotus) | Nematolepis wilsonii (shining nematolepis) | Nepenthes rajah | Nerine humilis (nerine) |
        Nerium oleander (oleander) | Nymphaea thermarum 

O    Obetia radula (stinging-nettle tree) | Ocimum basilicum (basil) | Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil) | Olea europaea (olive) |
        Ononis rotundifolia (round-leaved restharrow) | Ophrys apifera (bee orchid) | Origanum vulgare (oregano) | Oryza sativa (rice) |
        Osmanthus fragrans (fragrant olive) | Osteospermum hyoseroides (Star of the Veldt) | Oxalis hirta (tropical woodsorrel) |
        Oxalis massoniana | Oxytenanthera abyssinica (Bindura bamboo)

P    Pachypodium lealii (bottle tree) | Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) | Papaver rhoeas (common poppy) |
       Paphiopedilum armeniacum (golden slipper orchid) | Paradisea liliastrum (St Bruno's lily) |
       Paris japonica (Japanese canopy plant) | Parkia bicolor | Passiflora cristalina | Passiflora racemosa (red passion flower) |
       Pelargonium acetosum (sorrel-leaved pelargonium) | Pelargonium cordifolium (heart-leaved pelargonium) |
       Persicaria affinis (knot weed) | Phalaenopsis amabilis (moth orchid) | Phlomis russeliana (Turkish sage) |
       Pinus pinea (stone pine) | Plantago moorei (Moore's plantain) | Plectranthus cataractarum |
       Plectranthus esculentus (Livingstone potato) | Polygonum maritimum (sea knotgrass) | Premna serratifolia (malbau) |
       Primula beesiana (candelabra primula) | Primula bulleyana (Bulley's primula) | Primula denticulata (drumstick primula) |
       Primula verticillata (khaa) | Primula vialii (orchid primrose) | Prosthechea cochleata (cockleshell orchid) |
       Protea cryophila (snow protea) | Prunella vulgaris (selfheal) | Prunus mume (mume) |
       Pterocarpus lucens (small-leaved bloodwood) | Puccinia libanotidis (moon carrot rust) | Pyrostegia venusta (flame vine)

Q    Quercus castaneifolia (chestnut-leaved oak) | Quercus robur (English oak) | Quercus suber (cork oak)

R     Rafflesia arnoldii (corpse flower) | Ramosmania rodriguesii (café marron) | Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle) |
         Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) | Rhodanthe manglesii (Mangles's everlasting) |
         Rhodochiton atrosanguineum (purple bell vine) | Rodgersia pinnata |
         Rondeletia buxifolia (pribby) | Rosa chinensis (China rose) | Rosa graciliflora | Roscoea capitata |
         Roscoea purpurea (bhordaya) | Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) | Roussea simplex | Rumex acetosa (common sorrel)

S     Saccharum officinarum (sugar) | Salix x sepulchralis (golden weeping willow)  | Salvia africana-lutea (beach salvia) |
         Salvia caymanensis (Cayman sage) | Sambucus nigra (elder) | Sarracenia purpurea (pitcher plant) |
         Saxifraga burseriana (Burser's saxifrage) | Scutellaria galericulata (skullcap) | Senegalia senegal (gum arabic) |
         Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant redwood) | Silene schafta (autumn catchfly) | Silene multifida (fringed campion) |
         Solanum phoxocarpum (osigawai) | Solanum ruvu | Sparassis crispa (cauliflower fungus) |
         Stachys germanica (downy woundwort) | Stanhopea tigrina (tiger-spotted stanhopea) |
         Strelitzia reginae (bird-of-paradise flower) | Strongylodon macrobotrys (jade vine) |
         Styphnolobium japonicum (pagoda tree) | Sutherlandia frutescens (balloon pea) | Swainsona formosa (Sturt's desert pea)

T     Tahina spectabilis (dimaka)  |  Talbotiella velutina  | Tamarindus indica (tamarind) |  Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)  |
         Taxus baccata (yew) | Tecophilaea cyanocrocus (Chilean blue crocus) | Tectona grandis (teak) | Tephrosia chimanimaniana |
         Thalictrum delavayi (Chinese meadow rue) | Theobroma cacao (cocoa) | Thunbergia mysorensis (clock vine) |
         Thymelaea hirsuta (mitnan) | Tillandsia ionantha (blushing bride) | Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish moss) |
         Trichodiadema densum | Trifolium pratense (red clover) | Trillium nivale (snow trillium) |
         Trochetiopsis ebenus (St Helena ebony) | Tropaeoleum tricolor (three-coloured Indian cress) | Tulipa sprengeri

U     Urocystis primulicola (bird's eye primrose smut) | Ursinia speciosa (Cape daisy) | Urtica dioica (nettle) |
         Ustilago maydis (maize smut)

V     Vallea stipularis (capuli) | Vanda coerulea (blue vanda) | Vanilla planifolia (vanilla) | Verbascum dumulosum (shrubby mullein) |
         Viburnum dilatatum (linden viburnum) | Vicia orobus (wood bitter-vetch) | Victoria amazonica (giant waterlily) |
         Viscum album (mistletoe) | Vitex trifolia (simpleleaf chastetree)

W    Weldenia candida | Welwitschia mirabilis (tree tumbo) | Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi pine)

X    Xanthoceras sorbifolium (yellowhorn) | Xanthorrhoea preissii (balga)    

Y

Z     Zantedeschia aethiopica (arum lily) | Zingiber officinale (ginger)