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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Lactarius chromospermus (igisazi)
Lactarius chromospermus is an African milk-cap fungus species with chocolate brown gills that only forms a symbiotic relationship with species of Brachystegia in Miombo woodland.
More: Fungi, Plant fungal relationships
Lactifluus gymnocarpoides (Ubutuntutuntu)
Lactifluus gymnocarpoides is an edible species of milk cap fungus that form relationships with the roots of certain tropical legume trees and is widespread in tropical Africa.
More: Fungi, Food, Plant fungal relationships
Lagarostrobos franklinii (Huon pine)
Huon pine is a slow-growing Australian tree, some individuals of which are thought to be over 2,200 years old.
More: Trees, Ancient, Building materials, Beauty and cosmetics, Conifers
Lamium album (white dead-nettle)
The white dead-nettle has nettle shaped leaves that do not sting, and grows in woodlands and grasslands.
More: Mint family, Food, Medicinal
Lamium maculatum (spotted dead-nettle)
The leaf markings of the spotted dead-nettle make it an attractive and popular choice for gardeners, and along with its large purple flowers easily distinguish it from the common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).
More: Mint family, Ornamentals
Lathraea clandestina (purple toothwort)
A root parasite with explosive seed capsules, purple toothwort is becoming increasingly popular as a decorative garden plant.
More: Ornamentals
Lathraea squamaria (toothwort)
A parasite growing on the roots of a range of woody plants, toothwort owes its common name to its flowering and fruiting stems, which have been said to resemble a row of teeth.
More: Amazing adaptations, Out of the ordinary
Lavandula dentata (fringed lavender)
Fringed lavender is an attractive, highly aromatic, winter-flowering shrub for an unheated conservatory.
More: Mint family, Ornamentals, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics
Lavandula minutolii
Lavandula minutolii is an attractive winter-flowering shrub for the conservatory with aromatic, feathery grey leaves and spikes of blue flowers.
More: Mint family, Ornamentals
Lepidagathis fischeri
A bizarre, cushion-forming herb, Lepidagathis fischeri is resurrected annually following fire and subsequent rains in the woodlands and grasslands of eastern Africa.
More: Out of the ordinary, Amazing adaptations
Leratiomyces ceres (redlead roundhead)
Redlead roundhead is an attractive fungus easily recognised by its orange, slimy cap and dark gills. It can be found growing in large clusters on woodchip mulch.
More: Fungi
Leucocoprinus birnbaumii (plantpot dapperling)
The aptly named ‘plantpot dapperling’ mushroom often provides a surprise when its brilliant yellow fruiting bodies spring suddenly but fleetingly from plant pots in the dead of winter.
More: Fungi, House plants, Little and large
Leucojum vernum (spring snowflake)
The spring snowflake is a popularly cultivated bulbous plant with delicate white flowers, and belongs to the same family as the snowdrops.
More: Ornamentals, Medicinal, Alpines
Lewisia rediviva (bitterroot)
Bitterroot was first described as new to science in 1813 from specimens collected during one of the first western expeditions across the United States to the Pacific coast, but the species was already well-known and used by local Native Americans.
More: Alpines, Food, Medicinal, Ornamentals
Limonium arborescens (tree sea lavender)
This tree sea lavender, native to the Canary Islands, is one of the largest species in the genus Limonium.
More: Ornamentals, Saving species
Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle)
Trumpet honeysuckle has striking, bright red, tubular flowers and is an attractive climber, which is evergreen in very mild areas.
More: Trees, Ornamentals, Medicinal
Lupinus polyphyllus (large-leaved lupin)
Large-leaved lupin is one of the most spectacular perennial lupins native to western North America.
More: Legume family, Ornamentals
Luronium natans (floating water-plantain)
Floating water-plantain is an unusual aquatic plant, rare in the UK, with a differing leaf structure depending on the depth of water in which it grows, and showy white flowers.
More: Ornamentals
Lycoperdon perlatum (common puffball)
Fruiting throughout the autumn, the common puffball can be recognised by the shape of the fruitbody, its fragile, conical spines and the network-like pattern which is left when these are eroded or rubbed away.
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