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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Agrostis trachychlaena (bentgrass)
A rare grass species, Agrostis trachychlaena occurs within an area of only 16 km² on two islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. Fewer than 250 mature individuals are thought to survive.
More: Grass family, Saving species
Alcantarea hatschbachii
Previously considered extinct, the bromeliad Alcantarea hatschbachii has recently been re-discovered in the Brazilian highlands.
More: Saving species
Anogramma ascensionis (Ascension Island parsley fern)
Clinging to an unstable cliff on a sharp mountain ridge, four tiny plants of the Ascension Island parsley fern, thought to be extinct for over 50 years, were discovered by conservation biologists in 2009.
More: Saving species, Great plant hunters
Chamaegigas intrepidus
Chamaegigas intrepidus is a rare aquatic plant from Namibia, with a remarkable ability to recover after drought.
More: Amazing adaptations, Saving species
Clerodendrum paniculatum (pagoda flower)
The pagoda flower, so called because of its tall, pyramidal inflorescences, is one of the most spectacular Clerodendrum species.
More: Mint family, Medicinal, Saving species, Ornamentals
Cylindrocline lorencei
A botanical curiosity, Cylindrocline lorencei was considered extinct in the wild in 1990, but has recently been reintroduced to Mauritius.
More: Saving species
Cypripedium calceolus (lady's slipper orchid)
The lady's slipper orchid is one of the best known and most widely illustrated of all flowering plants.
More: Orchids, Saving species
Daniellia alsteeniana (mulombe)
Daniellia alsteeniana is one of the most charismatic and conspicuous trees in the woodlands and dry forests of northeastern Angola, where Kew is documenting species diversity to help build a case for conservation of this unique region.
More: Legume family, Trees, Gums and resins, Building materials, Saving species
Ecbolium tanzaniense
Seeds of Ecbolium tanzaniense, a rare Tanzanian shrub with striking livid-green flowers, were successfully collected by Kew staff and Tanzanian partners on a joint expedition in 2008.
More: Saving species
Epidendrum montserratense (Montserrat orchid)
In 2006, Kew conservationists rescued several plants of the endangered Montserrat orchid from dead trees on the volcano-ravaged island of Montserrat and installed them in the security of the island’s botanic garden.
More: Orchids, Saving species
Fritillaria meleagris (snake’s head fritillary)
Snake’s head fritillary has stunning, chequer-patterned flowers, and has become quite rare in the wild.
More: Ornamentals, Saving species
Gladiolus dzavakheticus (sword lily)
The eye-catching sword lily adds beauty to sub-alpine landscapes and lakesides, especially in foggy weather, when only its pink flowers are visible.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Saving species
Jasminum leptophyllum
On one of Kew’s collecting trips to Pakistan, 100 plants of the rare Jasminum leptophyllum were discovered; no other populations are known to local expedition members.
More: Kew discoveries, Saving species
Khaosokia caricoides (Khaosok sedge)
Khaosok sedge was discovered in 2001 on limestone cliffs, accessible only by boat, in southern Thailand.
More: Kew discoveries, Saving species
Limonium arborescens (tree sea lavender)
This tree sea lavender, native to the Canary Islands, is one of the largest species in the genus Limonium.
More: Ornamentals, Saving species
Medemia argun (argun palm)
The fruits of the argun palm were first discovered by archaeologists in the tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs.
More: Palms, Saving species, Textiles and dyes
Mellissia begoniifolia (St Helena boxwood)
Having virtually disappeared from its natural habitat for the second time, St Helena boxwood is kept safe in cultivation in Kew’s glasshouses.
More: Saving species, Fuels
Melocactus conoideus
Melocactus conoideus is a critically endangered cactus from eastern Brazil.
More: Saving species, Ornamentals
Micrargeriella aphylla
Micrargeriella aphylla is a rare and poorly known herb that was discovered for the first time in Angola by a Kew-led botanical team in 2011.
More: Kew discoveries, Saving species
Musa itinerans (Yunnan banana)
The Yunnan banana, native to China’s Yunnan province, is the 24,200th plant species saved at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank.
More: Food, Saving species, Making the news
Nematolepis wilsonii (shining nematolepis)
Shining nematolepis was thought to have become extinct in its one known site after the bush fires of February 2009. However, more intensive monitoring discovered a new population nearby with some adult plants and healthy seedlings.
More: Saving species
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
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
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
Protea cryophila (snow protea)
A mountain shrub with striking flower heads, the snow protea can withstand impressive extremes of temperature.
More: Amazing adaptations, Saving species
Ramosmania rodriguesii (café marron)
Café marron is endemic to the island of Rodrigues, Mascarene Islands, where it is presently known from just a single wild individual.
More: Coffee family, Saving species
Rondeletia buxifolia (pribby)
In 2006 Kew botanists discovered several populations of pribby using data from specimens rescued from Montserrat’s volcano-damaged herbarium.
More: Coffee family, Kew discoveries, Saving species
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
Salvia caymanensis (Cayman sage)
For nearly 40 years it was thought that the Cayman sage was extinct, but after the distribution of 'Wanted' posters in 2007 it was rediscovered.
More: Mint family, Saving species
Strongylodon macrobotrys (jade vine)
Strongylodon macrobotrys is commonly known as the jade vine, due to its striking blue-green flowers. The destruction of rainforests in the Philippines threatens this species in the wild.
More: Legume family, Saving species
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
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