Botanical Collection

Livistona chinensis, ca 18th century
Watercolour of Livistona chinensis, commonly known as Chinese fan or fountain palm, by unknown Asian artist, Company Art, Kew Collection, 18th century

Fallopia japonica - Japanese Knotweed
Tab.6503. - Fallopia japonica as Polygonum cuspidatum the original illustration is by Anne Barnard, watercolour on paper, 1880; The plate, 6503, was published in Curtiss Botanical Magazine

The Tea House, Kew Gardens, which opened in 1888, seen here before it was burned down by members of the womens suffrage movement as part of their campaign

Seedlings of Cinchona succirubra, India, 1861
Seedlings of Cinchona succirubra, photographed on arrival in Ootacamund, southern India, 9 April 1861. Collected by Richard Spruce in Ecuador, the plants were received by WIlliam McIvor

The Rhododendron Dell, Kew Gardens
19th century photograph of The Rhododendron Dell, Kew Gardens. Originally Capability Browns " Hollow Walk" it was created in 1773 and planted with rhododendrons in 1850

Corypha taliera, c 1795 - 1804
Illustration of Corypha taliera, by unknown Indian artist, 1795 - 1804. Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh, Kew Collection, c. 1795 - 1804

Punica granatum, L. (Common Pomegranate), 1817
Original illustration of Punica granatum, commonly known as pomegranate, on watercolour and pencil on paper, from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1832B, 1st July 1817

Cinera cum flore, 1613
Illustration of Cinera cum flore, Cynara species, from Hortus Eystettensis, by Basilius Besler, 1613, volume 2

Waterlily Pond, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ca 1900
The waterlily pond, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ca 1900. The pond was one of Sir William Thiselton-Dyers additions, heated by condensed steam from the local water supply

Fructus artischochi, 1613
Illustration of Fructus artischochi, currently accepted as Cynara cardunculus, commonly known as artichoke. Artwork from Hortus Eystettensis by Basilius Besler, 1613, volume 2

Carl von Linnaeus, Swedish botanist and taxonomist
Swedish botanist and taxonomist Carl von Linnaeus (Carolus von Linnaeus, later Carl von Linne) 1707-1778. Artist: Mrs Anderson (fl. 1858)

Solanum lycopersicum, Tomatoes
Tomatoes, or Love-Apples. Illustration from Ernst Benarys Album Benary - Tab. XXIV, 1876-82. Chromolithograph

Zingiber officinale, 1887
Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, from Köhler's Medizinal Pflanzen by Franz Eugen Köhler, 1887, volume 2, plate 202

Foliage, Flowers, and Seed-vessels of a rare West Australian Shrub, 1880
Foliage, Flowers, and Seed-vessels of a rare West Australian Shrub by Marianne North, 1880. Painting number 751

Mesembryanthemum simplex, 1793
Watercolour and pencil on paper by Francis Masson, 1793. Field sketch made by Masson in the Cape of Good Hope

Iris bulbosa latifolia, 1757
Gouache painting on vellum of Iris latifolia with a moth by Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708-1770), signed and dated 1757. The painting is from the Tankerville Collection, purchased 1934

Aloe mitriformis, 1810
Original illustration of Aloe mitriformis, from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1270, 1st March 1810. The currently accepted plant name is Aloe perfoliata

Victoria amazonica
Detail of Victoria amazonica leaves, RBG Kew. This plant is the largest of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies

Lodoicea maldivica, commonly known as coco de mer or double coconut by William Jackson Hooker from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, 1827. Artwork from volume 54, plate 2734

Fallopia japonica - Japanese Knotweed
Tab.6503. - Fallopia japonica as Polygonum cuspidatum the original illustration is by Anne Barnard, watercolour on paper, 1880; The plate, 6503, was published in Curtiss Botanical Magazine

Stella Ross Craig, botanical artist
Stella Ross-Craig, born in 1906, received an early induction into plant life from her father, a botanist, who taught his young daughter to identify wild flowers

Microscopical observations of cinchona bark and seedlings, 1862
Microscopical observations of cinchona bark and seedlings by Walter Hood Fitch, from J. E. Howard, Illustrations of the Nueva Quinologia of Pavon, 1862

Galanthus nivalis, 1832-1833
Illustration of Galanthus nivalis commonly known as snowdrop, milk flower or candlemass bells, 1832-1833. Artwork from Flora Regni Borussici by Albert Gottfried Dietrich, volume 1, plate 32

Dracula chimaera (Vampire orchid), 1882-1897
Illustration of Dracula chimaera by John Nugent Fitch from The Orchid Album, Comprising Coloured Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, and Beautiful Orchidaceous Plants, 1882- 1897; t. 203

Dianthus species from Honzo Zufu, 1828-1844
Nadeshiko, fringed pinks, cultivated Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus of Japanese origin, greatly influenced by human cultivation. Manuscript hand painted on paper, Japan, 1828

The Birdman, Mr Allaway, 1901
The Birdman, Mr Allaway feeding penguin outside Museum No. 1 - 1901. In 1899 three penguins were presented to Kew by Albert Linney

Poppy (Papaver), woodblock print and manuscript on paper, 1828
Wood block print and manuscript on paper, Japan, 1828. The wood block prints meassure approximately 25 cm in height. The wood block print is from Honzo Zufu or Illustrated manual of medicinal plants

Rhododendron Dalhousiae (frontispiece), 1849
Frontispiece of a Rhododendron dalhousieae Hook. f. in its native locality, 1849

Reynoutria japonica, 1880
Illustration of Reynoutria japonica, commonly known as Japanese knotweed. Hand-coloured lithograph on paper after the original drawing by Anne Barnard, 1880

Tamarindus indica, tamarind
Hand painted copy of an illustration of tamarind, commissioned by William Roxburgh. In his Flora Indica, Roxburgh describes this species as a magnificent tree, one of the largest in India

Theobroma cacao, 1887
Chromolithograph print on paper of Theobroma cacao, showing cocoa pod and beans, from Kohler's Medicinal Plants, vol 2, plate 183, 1887

Elettaria cardamomum, 1887
Illustration of Elettaria cardamomum, commonly known as cardamom, from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1887, volume 1, plate 74

Ficus carica or commonly known as common fig. Illustration from Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz by Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thome, Vol. 2, 1886. Tab 181 T. 181

Japanese Gateway, Kew Gardens c. 1910
Model of the Chokushi-Mon (Gateway of the Imperial Messenger), better known as the Japanese Gateway, gifted to Kew after its inclusion in the Japan-British exhibition held at Shepherds Bush in 1910

Atropa belladonna - Deadly nightshade
Botanical illustration of deadly nightshade

Corypha umbraculifera (Talipot Palm)
Corypha umbraculifera commonly known as Talipot Palm from Kerner/ Hansen Pflanzenleben, volume 1. Inscription says " Die Schattenpalme (Corypha umbraculifera)

Mesembryanthemum digitatum, 1772-1793
Watercolour on paper of Mesembryanthemum digitatum by Francis Masson, 1772-1793. The inscription mentions Dactylopsis digitata which is an old synonym the current accepted plant name

Stapelia reticulata, 1814
Original illustration of Stapelia reticulata, currently accepted as Huernia reticulata, commonly known as netted-flowered stapelia, from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1662

Hoodia bainii, 1878
Original illustration of Hoodia bainii, currently accepted as Hoodia gordonii, from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 6348, 1st March 1878. Watercolour and pencil on paper

Vaults at the Millennium Seed Bank
Photo of Seed Collections staff in the vaults at the Millennium Seed Bank, Wakehurst, 2009. The Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) is a growing collection of seeds from around the world

Dendrobium kingianum, 1834-1849
Illustration of Dendrobium kingianum engraved by Samuel Holden from Magazine of Botany and Register of Flowering Plants by Joseph Paxton, vol 12, 1834-1849

Cypripedium reginae (Showy orchid), 1876
Watercolour illustration of Cypripedium reginae (Showy orchid) by John Day, 12 June 1876. Artwork from John Days Scrapbook, volume 19, page 57

Corylus avellana, hazel
Corylus avellana. Common hazel. Illustration from Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz by Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thome, Vol. 2, 1886. Tab. 163 T. 163

Benary - Mendelss peas - Tab XXIII - t. 23
Benary - Mendelss peas - Tab XXIII - t.23

705. Palmyra Palms in Flood-time
Illustration of Borassus flabellifer, commonly known as Palmyra palm by Marianne North from Marianne North Collection, Kew, 1870

Coelogyne cristata, 1877
Watercolour illustration of Coelogyne cristata by John Day, 19 January 1877. Artwork from John Days Scrapbook, volume 20, page 69

Epidendrum vanille, 1774
Illustration of Epidendrum vanille, currently accepted as Vanilla mexicana. The illustration is from La Botanique mise a la portee de tout le Monde by Nicolas Francois Regnault (1746-c.1810)

Capsicum annuum, 1887
Illustration of Capsicum annuum, commonly known as peppers, from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1887, volume 2, plate 35

Coriandrum sativum, 1887
Illustration of Coriandrum sativum, commonly known as coriander, from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen by Franz Eugen Köhler, 1887, volume 1, plate 45

The Kew Gardens Question. This political cartoon was published in 1878 as part of the ongoing debate as to whether the public should be allowed into the gardens in the mornings, before 1pm

Buddleia colvilei, Smith M
Vol 121, t. 7449, 1895, Buddleia colvilei, Smith M, Buddlejaceae

Buddleia crispa, Fitch W
Vol 80, t.4793, 1854, Buddleia crispa, Fitch Walter Hood, Buddlejaceae

Vanilla planifolia, 1805-1846
Illustration of Vanilla planifolia from Getreue Darstellung und Beschreibung Der in Der Arzneykunde Gebr├ñuchlichen Gew├ñchse : Wie Auch Aolcher, Welche mit Inhen Verwechselt Werden K├Ânnen

Stapelia olivacea, 1876
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 6212, 1st February, 1876. Watercolour and pencil on paper. Sent to Kew by H.E

Puya chilensis (Chilli), 1880s
Puya chilensis (Chilli) by Marianne North, 1880s. Medium: Oil on board. Dimensions: H 90.4 x W 20.4 cm

Bee Orchid
Photograph of Ophrys apifera at Kew Gardens, commonly known as bee orchid, June 2010

Angraecum sesquipedale, 1870
Angraecum sesquipedale by John Day, 30 November, 1870. Artwork from John Day's Scrapbook volume 16, page 39

Carl von Linnaeus, Swedish botanist and taxonomist
Line and stipple engraving of Carl Linnaeus by Charles Edward Wagstaff, after Magnus Hallman Stipple.Linnaeus wears the Swedish Order of the Polar Star

Kew Pagoda from the Refreshment Pavillion

Bulbophyllum nocturnum J. J. Verm
Bulbophyllum nocturnum J.J.Verm. de Vogel, Schuit. & A.Vogel Photographed at the Hortus botanicus, Leiden, The Netherlands on 15 January 2009 by AndrÔÇÜ├á├Â

Vitis vinifera, 1846
Illustration of Vitis vinifera, commonly known as grape vine or cultivated grape, from Pomologie Francaise by Antoine Poiteau, 1846

Amanita muscaria, c. 1915-45
Illustration of Amanita muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric by Elsie M. Wakefield from the Kew Collection, c.1915-1945

Macrolepiota procera, c. 1915-45
Illustration of Macrolepiota procera, commonly known as parasol mushroom by Elsie M. Wakefield from the Kew Collection c.1915-45

Schlumbergera truncata, 1866
Illustration of Schlumbergera truncata, commonly known as Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, holiday cactus, 1866. Artwork from La Belgique Horticole by Edouard Morren, volume 16, plate 257

Zygopetalum mackayi, 1882-1897
Illustration of Zygopetalum mackayi from The Orchid Album, Comprising Coloured Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, and Beautiful Orchidaceous Plants by Robert Warner and Benjamin Samuel Williams

Vanda coerulea (Blue vanda), 1862
Illustration of Vanda coerulea by Walter Hood Fitch, 1862. Artwork from Select Orchidaceous Plants by Robert Warner, 1862; t. 18

Sobralia macrantha, 1845-1883
Illustration of Sobralia macrantha, 1845-1883. Artwork from Flore des Serres et des Jardin de l Europe by Louis Van Houtte, volume 7; t. 669, p. 69

Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid), 1885-1906
Illustration of Rhynchostylis retusa by Pieter de Pannemaeker. Artwork from Lindenia: Iconographie des Orchid├®es, 1885-1906; volume 15, plate 691

Psychopsis kramerianum (Butterfly orchid), 1845-1883
Illustration of Psychopsis kramerianum (Butterfly orchid), 1845-1883. Artwork from Flore des Serres et des Jardin de l Europe by Louis Van Houtte, volume 19; p. 40-41

Prosthechea cochleata (aka. Cockleshell orchid, black orchid, clamshell orchid, octopus orchid), 1802-1816
Illustration of Prosthechea cochleata by Pierre Joseph Redout├®, 1802-1816. Artwork from Les Liliac├®es, volume 6, plate 346

Phalaenopsis schilleriana, 1864
Watercolour illustration of Phalaenopsis schilleriana by John Day, 9 March 1864. Artwork from John Days Scrapbook, volume 7, page 58

Paphiopedilum niveum (Asian slipper orchid), 1883
Watercolour illustration of Paphiopedilum niveum by John Day, 26 April 1883. Artwork from John Days Scrapbook, volume 35, page 5

Ophrys apifera (Bee orchid), 1886
Illustration of Ophrys apifera from Flora von Deutschland : Österreich und der Schweiz in Wort und Bild für Schule und Haus, 1886. Artwork from volume 1, plate 148

Cymbidium lowianum, 1882-1897
Illustration of Cymbidium lowianum from The Orchid Album, Comprising Coloured Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, and Beautiful Orchidaceous Plants by Robert Warner, 1882-1897; t. 471

Honzo Zufu, 1821-1828
Wood block print and manuscript on paper, Japan, 1828. The wood block prints meassure approximately 25 cm in height. The wood block print is from Honzo Zufu or Illustrated manual of medicinal plants

Morchella esculenta, 1847-1855
Illustration of Morchella esculenta, also known as common morel, from Illustrations of British Mycology by Anna Maria Hussy, 1847-1855

Cortinarius violaceus, 1847-1855
Illustration of Cortinarius violaceus, a basidiomycete, also known as violet webcap, from Anna Maria Hussey, Illustrations of British Mycology, 1847-1855

Tuber melanosporum, 1847-1855
Illustration of Tuber melanosporum, also known as truffle, from Illustrations of British Mycology by Anna Maria Hussey, 1847-1855

Ribes rubrum, Ribes nigrum, 1867
Illustration of Ribes rubrum and Ribes nigrum, commonly known as redcurrant and blackcurrant, from Gartenflora, volume 16, plate 562, 1867

Punica granatum, 1791
Illustration of Punica granatum, commonly known as pomegranate, from Icones Plantarum Medicinalium by Joseph Jacob Ritter von Plenck, 1791. Illustration from volume 4, plate 376

Prunus domestica, 1820
Illustration of Prunus domestica, commonly known as plum or European plum from Europas Medicinische Flora by Alois Sterler and Johann Nepomuck Mayerhoffer, 1820

Feijoa sellowiana, 1898
Illustration of Feijoa sellowiana commonly known as pineapple guava or feijoa, by Matilda Smith, 1898. Artwork from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, volume 124, plate 7620

Carica papaya, 1750-73
Illustration of Carica papaya, commonly known as papaya or pawpaw, by Georg Dionysius Ehret, 1750-73. Illustration from Plantae Selectae by Christoph Jacob Trew, 1750-73

Grifolia frondosa, 1847-1855
Illustration of Grifolia frondosa, commonly known as hen-of-the-woods by Anna Maria Hussey from Illustrations of British Mycology, 1847-1855

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