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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Alocasia macrorrhizos (elephant ear taro)

Elephant ear taro is a massive aroid with a spectacular cluster of upwardly pointing, arrow-shaped leaf blades which can reach one metre in length.

More: Medicinal, Food, Ornamentals, Little and large

Amorphophallus titanum (titan arum)

The titan arum is a giant among plants, with a massive flowering structure that rises some three metres above the ground. Its flowering is rare and unpredictable, and always grabs the headlines!

More: Little and large, Ornamentals, Out of the ordinary, Amazing adaptations, Making the news

Aristolochia grandiflora (pelican flower)

Pelican flower produces enormous trumpet-shaped flowers, which smell of rotting meat and attract flies and wasps as its pollinators.

More: Little and large, Ornamentals, Medicinal, Amazing adaptations

Calvatia gigantea (giant puffball)

Calvatia gigantea produces perhaps the largest fruitbody of any fungus, and is aptly referred to as the giant puffball. The unmistakeable fruitbodies, which appear in late summer and autumn, are often the size of footballs and sometimes much larger.

More: Fungi, Food, Medicinal, Little and large

Carnegiea gigantea (saguaro cactus)

A star of many Western films, the iconic saguaro cactus is a spectacular feature of the Sonoran Desert in south western North America.

More: Fuels, Building materials, Traditions and beliefs, Ornamentals, Little and large

Dioscorea wallichii (kruo)

A yam from Southeast Asia, India and China, Dioscorea wallichii has edible tubers that can grow to over one metre long.

More: Food, Little and large

Gymnosiphon afro-orientalis

This flowering plant does not photosynthesise, but depends on fungi instead for survival.

More: Kew discoveries, Little and large, Plant fungal relationships, Out of the ordinary

Isoetes eludens

Part of an ancient group of plants related to the ferns, this species eluded discovery until 2007, hence its Latin name eludens.

More: Little and large, Ancient, Kew discoveries

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