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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Acacia senegal (gum arabic)
Gum arabic has been used for at least 4,000 years in the preparation of food, in human and veterinary medicine, in crafts and as a cosmetic.
More: Medicinal, Building materials, Legume family, Trees, Gums and resins, Beauty and cosmetics
Aloe ferox (Cape aloes)
Aloe ferox is a South African aloe valued for its colourless leaf ‘gel’ and bitter brown exudate.
More: Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics
Aloe vera (aloe vera)
Aloe vera has been described as a wonder-plant. The colourless jelly-like leaf parenchyma tissue is used in an extraordinary array of everyday products, from dishwashing liquid to yoghurt.
More: Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics, Food
Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood)
A sweetly aromatic herb with small, yellow flower heads, sweet wormwood contains the chemical artemisinin and its aerial parts are used in making anti-malarial drugs.
More: Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics, Ornamentals
Avena sativa (oat)
Oat is cultivated throughout the temperate world, to produce food for livestock and humans, and even as an ingredient for cosmetics.
More: Grass family, Food, Beauty and cosmetics
Calodendrum capense (Cape chestnut)
An African tree producing a spectacular display of pink flowers, Cape chestnut is a popular ornamental.
More: Ornamentals, Trees, Beauty and cosmetics, Building materials
Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet)
Wintersweet is grown chiefly for the wonderful scent produced by its small flowers in late winter and early spring.
More: Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics, Ornamentals
Cochlospermum orinocense (Tefé rose)
A striking South American tree, the empty fruits of which may turn up in your potpourri.
More: Trees, Textiles and dyes, Beauty and cosmetics
Commiphora guidottii (scented myrrh)
Believed to be the source of the scented myrrh mentioned in the Bible, Commiphora guidottii is a tree native to Somalia and Ethiopia.
More: Gums and resins, Traditions and beliefs, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics
Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass)
Lemon grass is a tall, Asian grass, long-known for its attractive scent and medicinal properties.
More: Grass family, Beauty and cosmetics, Food
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
Hoodia gordonii
Used for generations by the indigenous peoples of the Kalahari to quench their thirst, Hoodia gordonii is now widely used in the commercial production of slimming aids.
More: Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics
Imperata cylindrica (alang-alang)
Alang-alang is considered one of the ten worst weeds in the world, but has many uses as a traditional medicine.
More: Medicinal, Grass family, Beauty and cosmetics, Textiles and dyes
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)
A rapidly growing tree native to southeastern North America, black locust is loved by many as an elegant ornamental of parks and city streets.
More: Trees, Legume family, Building materials, Beauty and cosmetics, Ornamentals
Saccharum officinarum (sugar cane)
Sugar is extracted from the sweet, juicy stems of sugar cane, and is used worldwide as a sweetener, preservative and in the cosmetics industry.
More: Grass family, Food, Beauty and cosmetics, Fuels
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
Urtica dioica (nettle)
The nettle is one of the most useful plants in Britain and even its sting can be beneficial.
More: Food, Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics, Textiles and dyes
Vanilla planifolia (vanilla)
Vanilla planifolia is the source of vanilla, one of the most popular flavours in the world, and weight for weight, one of the most valuable spice crops.
More: Orchids, Food, Beauty and cosmetics, Medicinal
Zingiber officinale (ginger)
Ginger is a well known spice produced from the rhizome (underground stem) of the tropical herbaceous plant, Zingiber officinale.
More: Medicinal, Food, Beauty and cosmetics
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