Plants & Fungi A - Z

Neotinea ustulata (burnt-tip orchid)

An orchid endangered in the UK, the burnt-tip orchid gets its common name from the burnt appearance of its flowers when in bud.

More: Orchids, Saving species

Nepenthes bicalcarata (fanged pitcher plant)

Nepenthes bicalcarata, a distinctively ‘fanged’ pitcher plant from Borneo, has a mutually beneficial relationship with ants living inside its tendrils.

More: Amazing adaptations, Carnivorous, Ornamentals, Out of the ordinary

Nepenthes rajah

Famous as the rat-trapping pitcher plant, Nepenthes rajah has some of the largest pitchers in the genus Nepenthes.

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

Nepenthes robcantleyi (Robert Cantley’s pitcher plant)

A pitcher plant from the Philippines, description of Nepenthes robcantleyi was based on plants known from only a single location, where the forest has since been cut down.

More: Carnivorous, Amazing adaptations, Kew discoveries

Nerine humilis (nerine)

Nerine humilis is a low-growing, pink-flowered bulb, found on rocky slopes in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, often flowering in huge numbers after veld fires.

More: Alpines, Ornamentals

Nerium oleander (oleander)

Nerium oleander, commonly known as oleander, is a highly toxic plant that has been cultivated since ancient times.

More: Medicinal, Ornamentals

Nesiota elliptica (St Helena olive)

St Helena olive disappeared from the wild in 1994 and became extinct in 2003 when the cultivated seedlings and cuttings succumbed to fungal infections.

More: Trees, Great plant hunters

Nymphaea thermarum

Nymphaea thermarum is the smallest waterlily in the world, and the only Nymphaea to grow in damp mud rather than water.

More: Saving species, Making the news, Little and large

Obetia radula (stinging-nettle tree)

The stinging-nettle tree looks a bit like a papaya tree – but it does what its name suggests!

More: Trees, Out of the ordinary, Textiles and dyes

Ocimum basilicum (basil)

Ocimum basilicum, commonly known as basil, is an aromatic annual herb and an important economic crop.

More: Mint family, Food, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics

Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil)

Holy basil is an important medicinal and religious plant closely related to the basil we use for cooking.

More: Mint family, Food, Medicinal, Traditions and beliefs

Olea europaea (olive)

Kew's Herbarium contains a wreath of folded olive leaves, which was found in the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun, and is over 3,300 years old.

More: Trees, Food, Ancient, Fuels, Medicinal

Ononis rotundifolia (round-leaved restharrow)

Round-leaved restharrow is a beautiful, dwarf shrub with large, pink, red-veined pea-flowers and round, toothed, sticky leaflets.

More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Legume family

Ophiopogon planiscapus (lilyturf)

Lilyturf is a clump-forming perennial native to Japan, a dark-leaved cultivar of which is popular as an ornamental.

More: Ornamentals

Ophrestia madagascariensis

A member of the pea and bean family, Ophrestia madagascariensis is a perennial vine that is only found in northwestern Madagascar.

More: Legume family

Ophrys apifera (bee orchid)

The striking flowers of the bee orchid resemble a bee, resting on a pink flower.

More: Orchids, Amazing adaptations

Ophrys speculum (mirror orchid)

Ophrys speculum is a Mediterranean orchid that is pollinated exclusively by a single species of wasp.

More: Orchids, Food

Origanum vulgare (oregano)

A very common herb, oregano is widely used to give flavour to tomato or lamb dishes.

More: Mint family, Food, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics

Ornithochilus cacharensis

Ornithochilus cacharensis is a Critically Endangered orchid, which was recently discovered in Cachar, Assam (India).

More: Orchids

Oryza sativa (rice)

One of the world’s most important staple crops and a major part in the diet of more than half the world’s population, rice also has many medicinal uses.

More: Grass family, Food, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics, Traditions and beliefs

Osmanthus fragrans (fragrant olive)

Fragrant olive is an evergreen tree or shrub, with strongly-scented flowers; it is cultivated as an ornamental and has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine and for flavouring tea and confectionery.

More: Ornamentals, Food, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics

Osteospermum hyoseroides (star of the veldt)

Star of the veldt is a South African daisy with scented leaves and striking orange-yellow flower heads with dark centres.

More: Ornamentals

Oxalis hirta (tropical woodsorrel)

The late autumn flowering tropical woodsorrel was introduced into cultivation in the 18th century, but is not widely grown due to its untidy habit and flowers that only open in the sun, which can be rare in November.

More: Alpines, Ornamentals

Oxalis massoniana

Oxalis massoniana is a clump-forming perennial with hairy stems, narrow leaves and bright orange flowers; it is named after the Scottish botanist Francis Masson.

More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Great plant hunters

Oxytenanthera abyssinica (Bindura bamboo)

Oxytenanthera abyssinica (Bindura bamboo) is a drought-resistant bamboo from tropical Africa. Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank holds several thousand seeds from this species.

More: Fuels, Medicinal, Grass family, Amazing adaptations

Pachypodium lealii (bottle tree)

The bottle tree owes its name to the unusual swollen shape of its trunk, which acts as a water store. Traditional hunters in northern Namibia have used its highly toxic sap as an arrow poison.

More: Amazing adaptations

Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng)

American ginseng roots, which can resemble the human body, are dried for use as a popular herbal medicine.

More: Medicinal, Out of the ordinary

Papaver orientale (oriental poppy)

Few hardy, herbaceous flowers are more spectacular than the oriental poppy, a perennial that has long been popular in cultivation.

More: Ornamentals, Alpines

Papaver rhoeas (common poppy)

A distinctive symbol of remembrance, the common poppy has seeds that can lie dormant for over 80 years.

More: Traditions and beliefs, Food, Medicinal, Textiles and dyes

Paphiopedilum armeniacum (golden slipper orchid)

The endangered golden slipper orchid is highly prized as an ornamental.

More: Orchids, Ornamentals

Paradisea liliastrum (St Bruno’s lily)

The common name St Bruno’s lily refers to the founder of the Carthusian order of monks, and its medicinal properties have been known for a millennium.

More: Medicinal, Ornamentals

Paris japonica (Japanese canopy plant)

The genome of the Japanese canopy plant contains 50 times more DNA than the human genome and is 15% larger than the previous record holders (the marbled lungfish and a trillium).

More: Alpines, Kew discoveries, Food, Making the news

Paris quadrifolia (herb paris)

Flowering in late spring or early summer, herb paris is an attractive woodland plant with broad, spreading leaves and unusual, wispy flowers.

More: Ornamentals

Parkia bicolor

A tree from the forests of West and Central Africa, Parkia bicolor has large, reddish, pendent flower heads that are pollinated by fruit bats at night.

More: Legume family, Building materials, Medicinal

Passiflora cristalina

This striking new species of passion flower was discovered during an expedition to the Amazon Forest in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Passiflora racemosa (red passion flower)

The red passion flower is a beautiful evergreen climber with hanging clusters of showy red flowers.

More: Ornamentals

Pelargonium acetosum (sorrel-leaved pelargonium)

Originating in South Africa, the sorrel-leaved pelargonium is an elegant evergreen with a long flowering season that has been grown in England since 1724.

More: Ornamentals

Pelargonium cordifolium (heart-leaved pelargonium)

As the name suggests, the heart-leaved pelargonium has velvety, heart-shaped leaves scented of apple.

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

Persea americana (avocado)

A rapidly-growing tree or shrub from Mexico and Central America, avocado is well-known for its edible, green-fleshed fruits.

More: Beauty and cosmetics, Food, Medicinal

Persicaria affinis (knot weed)

This mat-forming perennial with smooth leaves and spikes of small pink or red flowers was once admired in the Himalaya by Sir Joseph Hooker, one of Kew’s early directors.

More: Alpines, Medicinal, Ornamentals

Phalaenopsis amabilis (moth orchid)

The moth orchid was one of the first orchids to be described from the Far East and its hybrids are now popular as houseplants.

More: Ornamentals, House plants, Orchids

Phlomis russeliana (Turkish sage)

Turkish sage is a stately plant, bearing whorls of hooded pale yellow flowers in summer and autumn.

More: Mint family, Ornamentals

Pimenta dioica (allspice)

Said to combine the flavour of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, allspice is best known as an ingredient in cakes and baking, but is also used in a variety of sweet and savoury dishes and drinks.

More: Food, Eucalyptus family, Beauty and cosmetics, Medicinal

Pinus caribaea (Caribbean pine)

Caribbean pine is an important timber tree, one variety of which is under threat from an introduced scale insect.

More: Trees, Building materials, Gums and resins, Saving species, Conifers

Pinus pinea (stone pine)

Highly valued for its edible seeds known as ‘pine nuts’, the stone pine has been cultivated in Europe for almost 2,000 years.

More: Trees, Conifers, Ornamentals, Gums and resins, Food

Piper nigrum (black pepper)

A climber from India, black pepper is the source of hot and pungent peppercorns, one of the most popular spices in the world.

More: Food, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics

Plantago moorei (Moore's plantain)

Forming low cushions of densely packed hairy leaves, Moore’s plantain survives the harsh drying winds, cool temperatures and strong ultraviolet light prevailing in the Falkland Islands.

More: Amazing adaptations

Platanus orientalis (oriental plane)

Native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia, oriental plane is a long-lived tree with widely spreading branches and spiky round fruits.

More: Trees, Medicinal, Building materials, Ornamentals

Plectranthus cataractarum

This small member of the mint family lives in and around waterfalls in West Africa.

More: Mint family

Plectranthus esculentus (Livingstone potato)

Livingstone potato is a yellow-flowered member of the mint family, with elongated edible tubers.

More: Mint family, Food