Orchids are still being discovered 🌸 A newly described miniature species, Telipogon choquequiraoense, shows why taxonomy matters: you can’t protect what you can’t properly document 🧪 🌎 Dig into the details: diagnostic features, comparisons & figures are in the paper here: https://ow.ly/loZl50Y9qOL

💘 Love at first Type Over the past two years, the Fungarium Sequencing Project team have analysed thousands of beautiful fungal Type specimens - the original references used to describe a species. This #ValentinesDay, we’re sharing one very special Type, from us to you 🍄💖

🎉 Today is Darwin’s birthday! This is an actual wild tomato plant that he collected, over 180 years ago! 🍅 We have millions of specimens like these in our collection, but did you know you can now see them on our new Data Portal, for free!? 👇 👉 https://ow.ly/2ZuW50YcG4Z #DarwinDay

This 19th Century watercolour of the Chinese orchid Vanda concolor from Kew's Library is thought to have been illustrated by an unrecorded Chinese artist. See spectacular examples of live orchids on show as part of our Orchid Festival at Kew: 7 February - 8 March 2026 👉 www.kew.org/kew-gardens/...

We’re celebrating our Science Collections Digitisation Project volunteers – an incredible team whose work has powered this project forward over the last four years 🌿

🌎 Applications are now open for the Emily Holmes Memorial Scholarships! 🎓 These scholarships provide funding towards plant and fungal postgraduate research projects 🧪 Apply now 👇 https://ow.ly/Xir050Y9r2A

Join governments and businesses at Chatham House Events' Climate and Energy Summit to explore strategies for a resilient future. 🗓️ 10-11 March 2026 📍Chatham House & online Book here 👉 https://ow.ly/yFk350Y0NSV

Here are some books we came across during a project in the mycology library last week. Our Library and Archives collections do not only cover plants, but also fungi and lichens. Some have very beautiful illustrations. Others (like the cordyceps) are rather gruesome... 🍄🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫 #KewLA

Amongst the notes of 19th century horticulturalist & botanist John Fraser, we spotted this list of unwelcome visitors to a property in Kew! John's ‘uninvited guests’ were botanical rather than human, including species such as thornapple and gallant soldier. How many can you recognise? #KewLA

MPNS v15 is now live! 🌿 A free, authoritative reference for 41,878 medicinal plants - now with images added for the first time, more global sources, stronger data links and updated taxonomy. Plant names are messy. Clear data matters for global health. Explore 👉 https://ow.ly/Ktzt50Y0wv1

A ‘zombie’ fungus. A ‘bloodstained’ orchid. A plant name straight out of Studio Ghibli 🧪 They’re all in the next issue of Kew Science - plus a few sharp takes on what’s changing in plant science right now 🌍 Want the full story? Get it in your inbox: https://ow.ly/vGPT50Y1Iz2

Traditional medicine is moving centre stage at WHO 🌍🌿 But safe, effective use depends on knowing which plants are being used. MPNS v15 helps cut through confusing names - now covering ~42,000 medicinal plants, with images added for the first time. Explore 👉 https://ow.ly/ui9N50Y0wNq

This year, the taxonomists on the Fungarium Sequencing Project had a goal to review 10,000 specimens. They hit their target an impressive three months ahead of schedule, so to celebrate their hard work, here are some of the stories they’ve uncovered!

🗺️What a multi-lingual collection: Jacques Gay was a botanist and collector from Switzerland and our Archives hold over 35 volumes of his manuscripts. He wrote mainly in French, although Latin and even Greek found its way into his writing as well. Any polyglots able to translate? #KewLA

Millions of records, centuries of discovery, all in one place 🌿 From specimens gathered on 18th-century voyages to Kew’s living collections of today, our data reveals the diversity of plant & fungal life — now accessible wherever you are 👇 https://ow.ly/OJLY50XZzOX

We're joining the Heritage Fund UK in celebrating #HeritageTreasures! Kew's Marianne North Gallery was completed in 1882, with much needed restoration work done on the Gallery and its paintings in 2008. The restoration was made possible in part with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund 🎨🖌️

It’s official, 125 plants and 65 fungi were named NEW to science in 2025! Every year, our botanists & mycologists work with partners across the world to officially name & describe new species to science 🧪 See our list of the top ten! 👉 https://ow.ly/J7LY50XT51M

We've all mislaid our keys, but this one made it to the other side of the world! The Library and Archives were delighted when Adelaide Botanic Garden recently arranged for donation of a key that was previously owned by Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck - granddaughter of King George III #KewLA

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our research & collections teams here at Kew! We're looking forward to sharing more stories and highlights with you in 2026 🎄 Beautiful illustration below from our LAA team #KewLA 👇

🌺If you're free on 15th January and would like to find out more about our Persian collections, why not sign up for one of our art workshops? More info in the booking links below 👇#KewLA Morning slot: https://ow.ly/x0cl50XMcGy Afternoon slot: https://ow.ly/IvwE50XMcGz

This #FungiFriday we are looking at the work of PhD Student Rose Gooda! Rose is studying the role of mycorrhizal fungi in the natural colonisation of forest in the UK, & recently conducted fieldwork in a temperate oak rainforest in Dartmoor where regeneration efforts are underway 👇 📸 © David Satori

Did you know that dried plant specimens, some collected hundreds of years ago, are helping us understand climate change today? 🌎

How do wild plants shape daily life in Guinea - & what’s at risk if they disappear? 🌿 A new open-access study has created the first nationwide checklist of wild useful plant species in Guinea - identifying 399 species used for medicine, materials, and food, & mapping the threats to their survival🧵👇

POV: You're scrolling through the Mycology team's camera roll after a field trip 🍄 Several members of the team recently spent time in Dumfries & Galloway, on the border of Scotland, as part of a field trip - one of which alongside the British Mycological Society @britmycolsoc.org.uk 👇 [1/2]

🎶A botanical musical? We recently stumbled across these in the 'Flora Cibaria' manuscript of botanist Lilly Wigg (1749-1828). The volumes consist of other people's writings and are full of surprises, with psalms and melodies strewn throughout, and little direct link to the botany on the page. #KewLA

Registration is NOW OPEN for our State of the World's Plants and Fungi Symposium, 29 June - 1 July 2026! 🌍 The theme will be 'Harnessing the benefits of specimen digitisation' & will follow the release of the next State of the World's Report 🌱🍄 Learn more & register here 👉 https://ow.ly/CuNg50XFOH1

Interested in Persian collections? This Wednesday, we will be hosting a talk about the Persian materials within our archive, focusing on the unexpected cultural & social histories: Learn more 👉 ow.ly/ENHb50XCLJ2 #KewLA

Do we have archives relating to your history? Probably! Our archive reflects global histories & is open to all. Conservator Shabnam Balouch has helped uncover our Persian archive, and you can find out more at an upcoming talk & our free public workshops in January! #EYAYourArchives #KewLA

For #EYAAnniversaries, we delved into collections on our Millennium Seed Bank, which opened at Wakehurst 25 years ago. Among the reports & articles on the development of one of the world’s largest seed banks, we discovered publicity materials featuring none other than Sir David Attenborough! #KewLA

Happy #EYAInclusion Day! We believe archives are for everyone, and we recently hosted workshops with Persian communities who visited our current exhibition & created beautiful booklets inspired by the items on display! It's vital that anyone who wants to use archives is able to access them. #KewLA

Our mycologists were taken by surprise this week when a visiting researcher found a curious pink truffle-like fungus under eucalyptus trees in the gardens.

For #EYADigital, we’re looking back at how Kew managed its corporate records - from filing paper documents to reviewing which should be archived or securely destroyed. While some paper files remain, we now support staff in managing records effectively in a primarily digital environment. #KewLA

Did you know botanist Sir Joseph Hooker travelled with two Bhotea mastiff dogs? Today’s featured image for #ExploreYourArchive Week #EYAPets is a playful drawing from his letters, showing Kinchin the dog being ‘taught’ to write.

For #EYASilence, we thought it fitting to look back at a time in which the Gardens had to be silent. This instruction sheet, issued during the Blitz in WWII, and an air raid logbook detail how the frequency of bombing raids led to the regular suppression of daily operations. #KewLA

Ever seen fungal illustrations? 🍄 Our Fungarium Sequencing Project Team is thrilled to show some of the original illustrations that were created when the species were first described as new to science. In some cases, this is the only visual reference material of the original fungus that we have! 🧵👇

While most of our archives are from the 19th century onwards, we do have a few older records, including this #EYAMedieval land deed from 1451! It is written in Latin and relates to Ardingly, which is near where our second site Wakehurst is located. #KewLA

Plant taxonomy is disappearing - and so is our ability to protect species 🍂 Nearly half of countries have fewer than 10 plant taxonomists. Kew is working to close the gap, but we need more experts fast. Read the study’s key findings and what we're doing about it 👇 https://ow.ly/XhJo50XyGAa

What #EYABeauty lies on the inside of this unassuming folder? We're showing off Elsie Wakefield's fungi illustrations today 🍄 Wakefield became Head of Mycology at Kew Gardens in 1915 and our Archives hold her personal papers collection, which includes letters, illustrations and photographs. #KewLA

Did you know today is #EYAConservation day? We’re celebrating with this 1734 engraved map by John Rocque, showing the gardens, park and related buildings of the Royal Family at Kew. Our conservator has mounted it on a board for support and advises Melinex sleeves and flat storage. #KewLA

For #NationalIllustrationDay, we're spoilt for choice by the illustrations we could post! We've settled on this hand-coloured lithograph of Strelitzia reginae by Francis Bauer who was employed as first resident botanical at Kew in 1790 with the grand title of ‘Botanick Painter to His Majesty’.

On #NationalTreeWeek we'd like to highlight the incredible efforts of Kew's past colleagues who were faced with the challenging task of moving trees across the Gardens. This photograph from Kew's Library and Archives depicts William Barron's ingenious horse-drawn tree transporter 🌳 #KewLA

Did you know Kew’s Library and Archives hold 7,000+ Indian illustrations? This vibrant Pajanelia longifolia piece by Vishnupersad - commissioned by Nathaniel Wallich - is now on show. Explore Flora Indica at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery through April 2026. #KewLA

Today we're celebrating the official 25th birthday of the Millennium Seed Bank - 25 years of pioneering seed-saving science and a future of restoring habitats across the globe 🌍🌱🎉 Want in? Access 25 years of research, partnerships and seed collections right here 👇 www.kew.org/wakehurst/wh...

What does it take to save Mozambique's plants? 🧑‍🔬 5 new networks of trained seed conservationists 🌱 Local community initiatives 🌍 57 new Important Plant Areas and more For 10 years we've been helping biodiversity with the Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique 👇 www.kew.org/read-and-wat...

Thousands of species, one big question: can global trade be sustainable? 🌿🌏 At #CITESCOP20 in Uzbekistan, our science policy team will be helping shape global decisions on sustainable trade. With their new blog you can learn more about what’s at stake 👇 www.kew.org/read-and-wat...

Autumn is in full swing, and so is mushroom season! This lovely engraving is from the 1675 book "Theatrum Fungorum" by Belgian priest and mycologist Franciscus van Sterbeeck. The facial expressions of the children above the doorway symbolise edible (left) versus poisonous (right) mushrooms. #KewLA

Today on #ArmisticeDay, we're remembering the Kew staff who served during both World Wars and balanced their lives in science and horticulture with duty and sacrifice 🧵👇 #KewLA

Once on the edge of extinction in England, the rare Fen Orchid is making a comeback 🎉🌸 Careful conservation has helped this delicate plant reclaim its place in wetlands - one of many hopeful stories from the new GB Red List for vascular plants 🧵👇🌿

A few generations ago, the phrase “when the eastern forest disappears” was Madagascar’s equivalent of “when pigs fly”. With the future of forests less certain, our Kew teams in Madagascar & the Millennium Seed Bank are using seeds to understand and restore them 👇 https://ow.ly/JrLK50Xl0vq #MSB25

What happens behind the vault doors of our Millennium Seed Bank? 🔍 As it turns 25, listen to our scientists on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today as they reveal how stored wild seeds can both protect endangered species, and be used in conservation & agriculture 👇🎙️ https://ow.ly/VmCZ50XnKVV