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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Abelmoschus esculentus (okra)
Okra is valued for its edible green fruits, said to be shaped like lady’s fingers.
More: Food, Textiles and dyes
Adansonia digitata (baobab)
Baobab, Africa’s iconic ‘upside-down’ tree, is pollinated by bats and bushbabies.
More: Food, Medicinal, Trees, Traditions and beliefs, Textiles and dyes
Ananas comosus (pineapple)
Pineapple is a tropical plant widely cultivated for its distinctive fruits with their sweet yellow flesh and juice.
More: Food, Medicinal, Textiles and dyes, Ornamentals
Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit)
Breadfruit is a tall tropical tree with divided leaves and large green to yellow fruits with an edible, starchy, white or cream-coloured flesh.
More: Food, Great plant hunters, Medicinal, Textiles and dyes, Building materials, Trees
Beta vulgaris (beet)
Beetroot, Swiss chard, sugar beet and mangel-wurzel are all cultivars of the same species, Beta vulgaris.
More: Food, Medicinal, Textiles and dyes
Betula papyrifera (paper birch)
Paper birch is a North American tree with waterproof bark used in earlier times to make canoes and tepee covers; its wood is now used commercially for toothpicks and ice lolly sticks.
More: Trees, Building materials, Textiles and dyes, Ornamentals
Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry)
A shrub or tree, with mulberry-like leaves, paper mulberry is important as a source of fibre for cloth and paper.
More: Trees, Textiles and dyes, Ornamentals, Medicinal
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
Celmisia spectabilis (cotton daisy)
The cotton daisy is one of the more widespread species in the mountainous areas of New Zealand.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Textiles and dyes
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
Edgeworthia chrysantha (oriental paperbush)
Oriental paper bush is a beautiful, winter-flowering scented shrub, which has bark valued for making high-quality paper in Japan.
More: Ornamentals, Medicinal, Textiles and dyes
Ficus benghalensis (banyan)
The banyan is a type of strangling fig, native to India and Pakistan. Known in Hindu mythology as 'the wish-fulfilling tree', banyans represent eternal life.
More: Trees, Traditions and beliefs, Gums and resins, Building materials, Textiles and dyes
Gazania linearis (treasure flower)
Treasure flowers, originally from South Africa, have been in cultivation since the 19th century, but are now also invasive plants in some parts of the world.
More: Ornamentals, Textiles and dyes
Hedera helix (common ivy)
A woody climber native to Europe, common ivy has long been collected for winter decorations and is an important food-source for wildlife.
More: House plants, Medicinal, Ornamentals, Textiles and dyes, Traditions and beliefs
Hierochloe odorata (sweet grass)
Hierochloe odorata is an aromatic grass native to Europe, Asia and North America, which has been used for incense and basketry by Native Americans.
More: Grass family, Traditions and beliefs, Textiles and dyes, Medicinal
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
Jubaea chilensis (Chilean wine palm)
Although Darwin described the Chilean wine palm as a ‘very ugly tree’, many consider it to be one of the world's most magnificent palms. Kew’s own impressive specimen is growing in our Temperate House.
More: Palms, Food, Textiles and dyes
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
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
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
Quercus robur (English oak)
Unrivalled king of the forest in Britain, English oak (pedunculate oak) is synonymous with strength, size and longevity.
More: Trees, Building materials, Food, Textiles and dyes
Quercus suber (cork oak)
The thick bark of the cork oak has been harvested for thousands of years, and was used to make Roman sandals.
More: Trees, Textiles and dyes, Building materials
Styphnolobium japonicum (pagoda tree)
The pagoda tree was introduced to Britain in 1753; Kew’s own specimen is believed to date back to 1760.
More: Legume family, Trees, Building materials, Textiles and dyes, Medicinal
Thymelaea hirsuta (mitnan)
Mitnan is a yellow-flowered desert shrub, the leaves of which are used in traditional medicine and the branches and bark are woven to make strong rope.
More: Textiles and dyes, Medicinal, Alpines
Triticum aestivum (bread wheat)
Bread wheat is more widely cultivated than any other crop, and world trade is of greater monetary value than all other cereals combined.
More: Food, Grass family, Textiles and dyes, Building materials
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
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