Kew's Science Projects
Kew scientists are involved in hundreds of scientific projects of varying scales ranging from individual PhD research programmes to large-scale network endeavours involving more than 40 institutional partners, across several continents. These project profiles document all our significant science projects (whether externally or internally funded).
Vascular Plant Classification Committee (VPCC) – Linear Sequence
Building on the strong foundation of botanical exploration and collaboration in this region this project is to map the vegetation of the entire Geelvink Bay region in Papua, Indonesia
To develop an identification aid to the African forest Celastraceae based on vegetative features, together with a synopsis of the taxa.
Building capacity and providing scientific support for in situ conservation in areas of key strategic or biodiversity significance in the Amazon
The "Waxtongue" project has been funded to carry out phylogenetic research into the genus Hygrocybe ("waxcaps") and the Geoglossaceae ("earthtongues"), two groups of major conservation concern in the UK. The objective is to make definition and identification of the species more robust, and to discover cryptic species that may have different conservation needs.
This project aims to provide a world classification and phylogeny for Salix & Populus, two widespread temperate genera with great economic importance but notoriously difficult taxonomy.
Many species of Leguminosae provide commercial timber, and all woody species have anatomical characteristics that contribute to the properties of the wood and lend a wealth of information for identification, systematics, phylogeny and wood use. At Kew we study legume wood for all these purposes.
Malpighiales is a recently recognised order that is very diverse in terms of habit and woodiness.This project aims to document the diversity of wood anatomy in a phylogenetic context.
A survey of the wood anatomy of Myrtaceae is being conducted. This will form part of the next volume of Anatomy of the Dicotyledons. The tribe Chamelaucieae, which has been neglected in the past is a particular centre of attention.
Developing a online world Flora of Grasses.
Providing baseline diversity (taxonomic data) for Rubiaceae, the fourth largest plant family, and a key component of tropical ecosystems.
A project contributing to the understanding of secondary xylem evolution in woody plants, including ecological adaptations and physiological functions in extant wood.
This project seeks to deliver understanding of the diversity of yams in Madagascar. The knowledge obtained is being used to work towards threatened species conservation and sustainable utilization of populations critical for the food security of rural people in Madagascar.
Researching little-known and new species of Passiflora from Tropical America
Providing an updated, fully synonymized, annotated checklist of the Compositae of Bolivia, available online and in print
Building capacity for in situ conservation in an area of outstanding diversity within Eastern Brazi
Databasing, georeferencing and digitizing specimens to make data available worldwide – a fundamental step towards sustainability of biological collections.
Delivering Kew’s unique Latin American collections online
Taxonomic and systematic studies of a poorly understood genus of forest trees
An international collaboration delivering an on-line catalogue of the plants and fungi of Brazil
