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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Tahina spectabilis (dimaka)
Large enough to be visible in satellite imagery, dimaka is an enormous ‘self-destructive’ palm that remained undetected by science until 2007.
More: Palms, Out of the ordinary, Little and large, Making the news
Talbotiella velutina
Talbotiella velutina is a rare rainforest tree, which is only found in two localities.
More: Trees, Legume family
Tamarindus indica (tamarind)
From the sausage-shaped fruits of the tamarind tree comes the sticky acidic pulp that has been used as a food ingredient for thousands of years.
More: Trees, Legume family, Food, Ancient
Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)
Commonly known as the dandelion, Taraxacum officinale has many culinary and medicinal uses, despite being generally regarded as a weed.
Tarchonanthus camphoratus (camphor bush)
An aromatic shrub from Africa and Saudi Arabia, camphor bush is used in traditional medicine and also valued for its wood.
More: Building materials, Medicinal, Ornamentals
Taxodium distichum (bald cypress)
Bald cypress is an iconic tree that epitomizes the southeastern USA for residents and visitors alike.
More: Trees, Building materials, Conifers
Taxus baccata (common yew)
A densely branching evergreen that can live for centuries, the common yew is often found in British churchyards.
More: Trees, Building materials, Medicinal, Traditions and beliefs, Conifers
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus (Chilean blue crocus)
Chilean blue crocus has brilliant blue flowers, and was thought for many years to be extinct in the wild.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Tectona grandis (teak)
Teak is well known for its high quality timber, and has also been used for traditional medicine in southeast Asia.
More: Building materials, Trees, Mint family, Medicinal
Tephrosia chimanimaniana
A Near Threatened shrub belonging to the pea and bean family, Tephrosia chimanimaniana is restricted to the Chimanimani Mountains in eastern Zimbabwe.
More: Legume family
Tetraberlinia bifoliolata (ekaba)
Tetraberlinia bifoliolata is a tropical African tree with yellow flowers and explosive seed pods.
More: Trees, Legume family, Plant fungal relationships
Thalictrum delavayi (Chinese meadow rue)
Chinese meadow rue is a tall perennial with highly divided leaves and numerous, small, pinkish-purple flowers.
More: Ornamentals
Theobroma cacao (cocoa tree)
The cocoa tree is the source of one of the world’s most delicious and familiar products… chocolate.
More: Trees, Food, Traditions and beliefs, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics
Thunbergia mysorensis (clock vine)
The clock vine can reach up to 10 metres in length with hanging stems of stunning yellow and reddish-brown flowers.
More: Ornamentals, Little and large
Thymelaea hirsuta (mitnan)
Mitnan is a yellow-flowered desert shrub, the leaves of which are used in traditional medicine and the branches and bark are woven to make strong rope.
More: Textiles and dyes, Medicinal, Alpines
Tilia platyphyllos (large-leaved lime)
A giant among European trees, large-leaved lime can grow up to 35 m tall.
More: Trees, Building materials, Ornamentals
Tillandsia ionantha (blushing bride)
Blushing bride is a common houseplant, admired for its contrasting violet flower spikes and red inner leaves.
More: House plants, Ornamentals
Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish moss)
Spanish moss is a superb 'air plant' which grows in silverish festoons up to 30 m long, hanging from tree limbs, cliffs and even telephone wires.
More: Fuels, Medicinal, Building materials
Trichodiadema densum
Trichodiadema densum is a low-growing succulent that is extremely reluctant to flower, but when it does, it has numerous bright pink daisy-like flowers in autumn.
More: Ornamentals
Trifolium pratense (red clover)
Red clover is grown widely across the world as a forage crop for livestock and poultry and has also been used in folk medicine.
More: Legume family, Medicinal, Food
Trillium nivale (snow trillium)
Snow trillium is one of the earliest alpine plants to bloom in spring and often flowers as the snow melts around it.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Triticum aestivum (bread wheat)
Bread wheat is more widely cultivated than any other crop, and world trade is of greater monetary value than all other cereals combined.
More: Food, Grass family, Textiles and dyes, Building materials
Trochetiopsis ebenus (St Helena ebony)
From the two surviving wild St Helena ebony plants, Kew’s horticulturists and conservationists have taken part in propagation programmes with colleagues in St Helena to produce thousands of new plants from cuttings and seeds.
More: Saving species
Tropaeolum tricolor (three-coloured Indian cress)
Three-coloured Indian cress is a delicate, colourful climber with thread-like stems and small, bright red, purple and yellow, long-spurred flowers.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Tulipa sprengeri
Extinct in the wild, Tulipa sprengeri is a late-flowering, bright-red tulip with small flowers and shiny green leaves.
More: Ornamentals, Alpines
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