Plants & Fungi A - Z

Magnistipula multinervia

Magnistipula multinervia is so rare that only four trees are known, growing in a remote area deep inside Korup National Park in Cameroon.

More: Trees

Mascarenhasia arborescens

An attractive ornamental, Mascarenhasia arborescens was an important source of natural rubber in Madagascar in the early 1900s.

More: Building materials, Gums and resins, Medicinal

Massonia depressa (hedgehog lily)

A remarkable bulb from South Africa, hedgehog lily has a pair of leaves pressed flat onto the ground, and a head of small white or pinkish flowers, like a shaving brush, nestled between them.

More: Out of the ordinary, Ornamentals, Great plant hunters

Mastigostyla chuquisacensis

An attractive member of the iris family, Mastigostyla chuquisacensis is known from only two localities in Bolivia.

More: Kew discoveries

Mastigostyla torotoroensis

Found only in Torotoro National Park in Bolivia, Mastigostyla torotoroensis is a bulbous perennial herb with eye-catching blue flowers.

More: Kew discoveries

Mastigostyla woodii

Named in honour of the British botanist John R. I. Wood, Mastigostyla woodii is a member of the iris family with horizontally-facing blue-purple flowers.

Medemia argun (argun palm)

The fruits of the argun palm were first discovered by archaeologists in the tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs.

More: Palms, Saving species, Textiles and dyes

Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree)

The main source of commercially-produced tea tree oil, Melaleuca alternifolia is an efficacious natural antiseptic once heralded as ‘a medicine chest in a bottle’.

More: Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics

Mellissia begoniifolia (St Helena boxwood)

Having virtually disappeared from its natural habitat for the second time, St Helena boxwood is kept safe in cultivation in Kew’s glasshouses.

More: Saving species, Fuels

Melocactus conoideus

Melocactus conoideus is a critically endangered cactus from eastern Brazil.

More: Saving species, Ornamentals

Mentha suaveolens (apple mint)

A vigorous, aromatic perennial native to southern and western Europe, apple mint is grown as a culinary herb and ornamental.

More: Food, Ornamentals, Mint family

Michelsonia microphylla (kasisi)

Michelsonia microphylla is a rare, although once locally abundant, tropical African forest tree from the Congo basin.

More: Legume family, Building materials, Trees

Micrargeriella aphylla

Micrargeriella aphylla is a rare and poorly known herb that was discovered for the first time in Angola by a Kew-led botanical team in 2011.

More: Kew discoveries, Saving species

Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant)

Few can resist touching the compound leaves of the sensitive plant and watching them fold up in response.

More: Legume family, Amazing adaptations, Medicinal, Ornamentals

Monodora myristica (calabash nutmeg)

Calabash nutmeg is a large tropical tree with huge leaves and exotic, scented flowers that hang down on cord-like twigs.

More: Building materials, Food, Traditions and beliefs, Medicinal

Morchella esculenta (common morel)

The common morel and related species, popularly known as morels, produce their distinctive fruitbodies in spring and are sought-after edible fungi.

More: Fungi, Food, Medicinal

Musa itinerans (Yunnan banana)

The Yunnan banana, native to China’s Yunnan province, is the 24,200th plant species saved at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank.

More: Food, Saving species, Making the news

Myriostoma coliforme (pepperpot earthstar)

The pepperpot earthstar was first described from Britain as a new species in 1776. It was considered extinct in the UK until recently rediscovered in Suffolk.

More: Fungi