Plants & Fungi A - Z

Banksia integrifolia (coast banksia)

Coast banksia is an open tree or large shrub with smooth-edged leaves when mature, and heads of pale yellow flowers. In some forms, the leaf edges are wavy.

More: Great plant hunters, Trees

Barleria aristata

A spectacular blue-flowered undershrub, Barleria aristata was only very recently described, despite its abundance along one of the main transport routes in east Africa!

Bellis perennis (daisy)

The humble yet cheerfully attractive daisy is familiar to most people as a weed of lawns and as a feature of children's games.

Berkheya purpurea (purple berkheya)

Purple berkheya is the only mauve to purple flowered species in the genus, most of the others being yellow or in some cases white.

More: Alpines, Ornamentals

Berlinia korupensis

This rare rainforest giant was recently discovered in Cameroon.

More: Legume family, Kew discoveries, Out of the ordinary

Berlinia razzifera

Berlinia razzifera is a rare rainforest tree from river banks in the Loango National Park of Gabon.

More: Trees, Legume family, Plant fungal relationships, Kew discoveries

Beta vulgaris (beet)

Beetroot, Swiss chard, sugar beet and mangel-wurzel are all cultivars of the same species, Beta vulgaris.

More: Food, Medicinal, Textiles and dyes

Betula papyrifera (paper birch)

Paper birch is a North American tree with waterproof bark used in earlier times to make canoes and tepee covers; its wood is now used commercially for toothpicks and ice lolly sticks.

More: Trees, Building materials, Textiles and dyes, Ornamentals

Betula pendula (silver birch)

The silver birch is a temperate tree, grown as an ornamental plant, also for its timber. It is used for a range of purposes, from broom-making and steeple-chase fencing to medicines.

More: Trees, Medicinal, Building materials

Boesenbergia rotunda (fingerroot)

Fingerroot is a medicinal and culinary herb, with bright yellow, finger-shaped rhizomes.

More: Food, Medicinal

Boswellia sacra (frankincense)

Frankincense, an oily gum resin from the tree Boswellia sacra and related species, is named in the Bible as one the three gifts given to the baby Jesus by the 'Three Wise Men'. It has been used for thousands of years in many different cultures.

More: Gums and resins, Traditions and beliefs, Medicinal

Brachystephanus africanus

When this brightly-coloured, forest floor herb was found by a Kew-led team on Namuli Mountain, it was the first time Brachystephanus africanus had been recorded from Mozambique.

More: Kew discoveries

Brassica oleracea (wild cabbage)

Cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts are all cultivars of the same species, Brassica oleracea.

More: Food

Brenierea insignis (andrabe)

This bizarre Madagascan species Brenierea insignis has unusual flattened stems and is only really recognisable as a species of legume when in fruit.

More: Legume family

Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry)

A shrub or tree, with mulberry-like leaves, paper mulberry is important as a source of fibre for cloth and paper.

More: Trees, Textiles and dyes, Ornamentals, Medicinal

Bulbophyllum macranthum

Bulbophyllum macranthum is an epiphytic orchid from southeast Asia, with long, creeping rhizomes and large, sweetly-scented, fly-pollinated flowers.

More: Orchids, Ornamentals

Bulbophyllum nocturnum

Bulbophyllum nocturnum was recently discovered on the island of New Britain (part of Papua New Guinea) and is the first known orchid with flowers that consistently open at night and close during the day.

More: Orchids, Kew discoveries, Making the news