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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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
Berlinia korupensis
This rare rainforest giant was recently discovered in Cameroon.
More: Legume family, Kew discoveries, Out of the ordinary
Caryota urens (solitary fishtail palm)
Across India and other Asian countries, the sap of solitary fishtail palm is fermented to produce an alcoholic drink called palm wine or toddy.
More: Palms, Building materials, Food, Ornamentals, Textiles and dyes, Out of the ordinary
Clathrus archeri (devil's fingers)
Clathrus archeri, also known as devil's fingers, has a gelatinous egg stage from which the fruitbody arises, its four to eight reddish arms each coated with dark, foul-smelling tissue.
More: Fungi, Out of the ordinary
Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap)
The Venus flytrap “eats” insects and sometimes even small frogs that become trapped in its modified, toothed leaves; if the prey struggles, the trap will close even tighter.
More: Carnivorous, Out of the ordinary, Ornamentals, House plants
Dioscorea strydomiana (Strydom's yam)
Dioscorea strydomiana is a recently discovered yam from South Africa. It is critically endangered and one of the most unusual yam species anywhere in the world.
More: Medicinal, Out of the ordinary, Kew discoveries, Making the news
Echinocereus stramineus (strawberry cactus)
The densely-spined strawberry cactus is known for its hedgehog-like appearance and strawberry-flavoured fruits.
More: Out of the ordinary, Food
Euphorbia caput-medusae (Medusa's head)
Medusa’s head is so named because of its numerous snake-like stems.
More: Ornamentals, Out of the ordinary
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
Justicia brandegeeana (shrimp plant)
Justicia brandegeeana is commonly known as shrimp plant because of the colour and shrimp-like appearance of its inflorescence.
More: Ornamentals, Out of the ordinary, Medicinal
Lathraea squamaria (toothwort)
A parasite growing on the roots of a range of woody plants, toothwort owes its common name to its flowering and fruiting stems, which have been said to resemble a row of teeth.
More: Amazing adaptations, Out of the ordinary
Lepidagathis fischeri
A bizarre, cushion-forming herb, Lepidagathis fischeri is resurrected annually following fire and subsequent rains in the woodlands and grasslands of eastern Africa.
More: Out of the ordinary, Amazing adaptations
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
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
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
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
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
Premna serratifolia (malbau)
Malbau is a common beach plant from southeast Asia and the Pacific. The crushed leaves smell of cat's urine.
More: Mint family, Out of the ordinary, Medicinal
Rafflesia arnoldii (corpse flower)
A rare, parasitic, rootless and leafless plant, Rafflesia arnoldii has the largest known flower in the world.
More: Little and large, Out of the ordinary, Medicinal
Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle)
The yellow rattle may look pretty and innocent – but it is a vampire at heart.
More: Out of the ordinary
Roussea simplex
Restricted to the island of Mauritius, Roussea simplex is a critically endangered shrub or liana that is pollinated by a gecko.
More: Out of the ordinary, Saving species
Russula meleagris
The fungus Russula meleagris is always found in a mutually beneficial association with a tropical legume tree species, Gilbertiodendron dewevrei, and has a smell that has been described as resembling that of a public toilet!
More: Fungi, Out of the ordinary, Plant fungal relationships
Sauromatum venosum (voodoo lily)
A distinctive plant from upland areas of Africa and Asia, voodoo lily has flowers that emit a smell resembling rotting meat.
More: Ornamentals, Out of the ordinary
Swainsona formosa (Sturt's desert pea)
Sturt's desert pea has striking, blood-red flowers with bulbous black centres, and is the South Australian floral emblem.
More: Legume family, Out of the ordinary, Ornamentals, Traditions and beliefs
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
Welwitschia mirabilis (tree tumbo)
A ragged-leaved inhabitant of African desert, some tree tumbos are believed to be over 1,000 years old.
More: Ancient, Amazing adaptations, Out of the ordinary, Little and large
Xanthorrhoea preissii (balga)
A prominent species of the coastal plains and adjacent forests of south-west Western Australia, the tall, thin flowering spikes of Xanthorrhoea preissii emerge from a crown of grass-like leaves on a sturdy trunk, giving it an unusual profile.
More: Out of the ordinary, Fuels, Building materials, Traditions and beliefs
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