Plants & Fungi A - Z
Explore our profiles of plants and fungi.
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 and showcase star plants in the Gardens.
This is a constantly growing resource with new profiles added every week - so do be sure to check back regularly.
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Ecbolium tanzaniense
Seeds of Ecbolium tanzaniense, a rare Tanzanian shrub with striking livid-green flowers, were successfully collected by Kew staff and Tanzanian partners on a joint expedition in 2008.
More: Saving species
Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower)
Narrow-leaved purple coneflower is a beautiful North American tallgrass prairie plant, long prized for its medicinal qualities.
More: Medicinal
Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower)
An attractive North American daisy, Echinacea purpurea has been in cultivation for over 200 years.
More: Medicinal
Echinocereus stramineus (strawberry cactus)
The densely-spined strawberry cactus is known for its hedgehog-like appearance and strawberry-flavoured fruits.
More: Out of the ordinary, Food
Edgeworthia chrysantha (oriental paperbush)
Oriental paper bush is a beautiful, winter-flowering scented shrub, which has bark valued for making high-quality paper in Japan.
More: Ornamentals, Medicinal, Textiles and dyes
Encephalartos altensteinii (Eastern Cape giant cycad)
The Eastern Cape giant cycad originates from South Africa, is long-lived and slow growing, and is popular as an ornamental plant.
More: Great plant hunters, Ornamentals, Kew discoveries, Ancient
Encephalartos tegulaneus (lpision)
This giant Kenyan cycad is a living fossil of the plant world – Encephalartos tegulaneus is a member of an ancient group and impressive, but also rare and only found on remote hills.
More: Ancient
Encephalartos woodii (Wood's cycad)
Wood’s cycad is an extremely rare plant. Along with its striking appearance, this makes it one of the most sought-after cycad species in the world.
More: Ancient
Encholirium agavoides
This striking new species of bromeliad was discovered during conservation-based fieldwork in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
More: Kew discoveries
Encholirium ctenophyllum
This new species of bromeliad, with comb-like leaves, was discovered during conservation-based fieldwork in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
More: Kew discoveries
Ensete lasiocarpa (golden lotus banana)
The golden lotus banana is a small but stunning member of the banana family.
More: Food, Traditions and beliefs
Ensete ventricosum (Ethiopian banana)
A staple food crop in its native Ethiopia, the Ethiopian banana is also a popular ornamental giving gardens a lush tropical effect with its large decorative leaves and striking purple midrib.
More: Food, Ornamentals
Epidendrum montserratense (Montserrat orchid)
In 2006, Kew conservationists rescued several plants of the endangered Montserrat orchid from dead trees on the volcano-ravaged island of Montserrat and installed them in the security of the island’s botanic garden.
More: Orchids, Saving species
Epidendrum radicans
A vigorous terrestrial orchid with bright orange and yellow flowers, Epidendrum radicans is grown as an ornamental and for cut flowers.
More: Orchids, Ornamentals
Epimedium flavum (barrenwort)
Epimedium flavum is a herbaceous perennial with upright stems and bright yellow flowers, produced mainly in spring.
More: Ornamentals
Epimedium perralderianum (barrenwort)
Barrenwort is an evergreen, herbaceous perennial with stiff, heart-shaped leaflets and spikes of small, yellow flowers in spring.
More: Ornamentals
Erythrina senegalensis (coral tree)
One of the coral trees: a scarlet beauty with a sting in its tail.
More: Legume family, Ornamentals, Medicinal
Eucalyptus brandiana (Brand's mallet)
Brand's mallet is a rare and endangered ornamental Eucalyptus recently described from Fitzgerald River National Park in SW Australia.
More: Eucalyptus family, Kew discoveries
Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum)
River red gum is a beautiful tree found along river banks and in valleys in Australia.
More: Building materials, Fuels, Medicinal
Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian blue gum)
The principal source of eucalyptus oil, Tasmanian blue gum is a tall, evergreen tree native to Tasmania and Victoria and is the most widely cultivated eucalypt across Australia and the rest of the world.
More: Trees, Eucalyptus family, Building materials, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics
Eucalyptus sweedmaniana (Sweedman's mallee)
Sweedman's mallee is a knee-high rare eucalypt of horticultural merit recently discovered on the burnt coastal slopes of the Mount Arid granite inselberg in SW Australia.
More: Eucalyptus family, Kew discoveries
Eucomis bicolor (pineapple lily)
Pineapple lily is a summer-flowering, bulbous perennial with an impressive, long-lasting display of star-shaped flowers.
More: Ornamentals, Medicinal
Euonymus latifolius (large-leaved spindle)
The large-leaved spindle is a shrub with scarlet fruits and brilliant red leaves in autumn.
More: Ornamentals
Euphorbia caput-medusae (Medusa's head)
Medusa’s head is so named because of its numerous snake-like stems.
More: Ornamentals, Out of the ordinary
Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia)
A small tree or shrub from Mexico and Guatemala, poinsettia is cultivated for its striking red bracts, and potted forms are the basis of a lucrative Christmas industry.
More: House plants, Ornamentals, Medicinal, Traditions and beliefs, Trees
Euphorbia stricta (upright spurge)
The upright spurge is an annual herb, widespread throughout Europe but uncommon in the UK where it is found mainly in a small area around Gloucester.
More: Ornamentals
Euryops pectinatus (golden daisy bush)
Golden daisy bush is a South African shrub bearing bright yellow flower heads and attractive, narrowly divided leaves.
More: Ornamentals
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