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Kew Science News
Unlocking the potential of plant and fungal DNA
Following the announcement of the universal plant DNA barcode late in 2009, scientists at Kew are testing the barcode to see if it can be used to identify plants reliably. If successful, this DNA technology will have wide-ranging applications in discoveri
Plant story - conserving willowmore cedar
Find out how the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership saved willowmore cedar (Widdringtonia schwarzii), an ancient giant plant which occurs in the Baviaanskloof and Kouga Mountains in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
Plant story - protecting the future of Erica verticillata
Erica verticillata was last seen in the wild in 1908 and was, until 1984, thought to be extinct. It has since been found and re-established thanks to the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership.
Plant story - Mimetes hirtus, vulnerable species bagged by Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership in South Africa
Also known as the Marsh pagoda or Vleistompie, this species is difficult to collect.
Plant story - saving Oldfieldia dactylophylla, a rare and highly endangered tree species from Malawi
The excitement could not be concealed when the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership collection team came across three Oldfieldia dactylophylla trees loaded with fruits.
Plant story - a newly discovered species of Dioscorea has been collected and saved
This Dioscorea (yam) species is scarce because it has been over-collected for medicinal use. A newly discovered species of Dioscorea has now been collected and saved by the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership.
Plant story - a rare tree from Kenya, Aloe ballyi, has been saved by Millennium Seed Bank partners
The seeds of a rare Aloe tree were collected in the Taita Hills of Kenya during a collaborative collecting mission involving the National Genebank of Kenya and the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership.
Plant story - conserving Protea odorata, an endangered plant species
Efforts to find and conserve populations of Protea odorata date back to the early 1980's when four sites were identified.
Plant story - conserving grassland paper daisy in Tasmania
The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership has conserved the endangered Australian grassland paper daisy (Leucochrysum albicans).
Plant story - Gladiolus aureus is on the verge of extinction
A once wide spread plant species, this geophyte, known only to be found in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa is on the verge of extinction in the wild.
Plant story - finding snow protea
Find out how snow protea (Protea cryophila) was lost and found thanks to the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership.
Plant story - helping to conserve Origanum syriacum
The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership has conserved the endangered Origanum syriacum, the most economic and edible wild plant in Lebanon.
Plant story - last wild population of Cylindrophyllum hallii saved from extinction
A wild population of a long-lost species was discovered during a routine seed collecting trip in South Africa. This plant species had not been documented or collected since 1960.
Plant story - Devils claw found and collected from Botswana
Plant story - saving Hoodia currorii an important slimming plant
Plant story - Iris sofarana, an endemic plant species from the higher mountains in Lebanon
A bumper year for Kew in new species discovery
Canopy giants and miniature fungi are among over 250 new species discovered in Kew’s 250th anniversary year
Knee-high eucalyptus discovered in SW Australia
Plant story - 200 year old seeds spring to life
Against all expectations, seed scientists from Kew's Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, germinated 200 year old seeds discovered in The National Archives. Some of these have now grown into healthy plants.
New palm genus is discovered in the remote forests of New Guinea
The discovery of a new palm genus has revealed that botanists have much still to learn about remote areas such as New Guinea.