Royal Botanic Gardens

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  • Name

    Royal Botanic Gardens

  • Herbarium Code

    K

  • Current Status

    Active

  • Correspondents

    Alan Paton, Head of Collections, a.paton@kew.org

  • Contact

    Royal Botanic Gardens
    Kew
    Email: a.paton@kew.org

  • Address

    Herbarium
    Science
    Royal Botanic Gardens
    Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England TW9 3AE
    U.K.
    https://www.kew.org/science/collections

  • CITES

    GB 005

  • Specialty

    Taxonomic Coverage: Vascular plants and larger fungi; emphasis on families of major economic importance

    Geography: Worldwide, especially Africa, tropical Asia, and Australasia

  • Notes

    Updated December 2022: Please use the following link to request a visit to the collections https://www.kew.org/science/engage/accessing-our-science/access-our-collections. Funded as a government institution in 1841; Kew herbarium and library founded in 1852. Around 7 million vascular plant specimens (including approximately 330,000 types) and 1.25 million fungi specimens. Digitisation of specimens is underway. Catalogue numbers of Herbarium specimens begin with K; and with K-M for Fungarium specimens, older records may have been cited as K(M). Specimens of original Wallich Herbarium (K-W) are not sent on loan. K lichens (pre mid 1960s only), bryophytes, and algae transferred to BM in the 1960s. K is a Non-Departmental Public Body (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

  • Feedback

    Send comment or correction to the Editor of Index Herbariorum

  • Number of Specimens

    8125000

  •   Num. of Specimens Num. Databased Num. Imaged
    Algae 0
    Bryophytes 0
    Fungi/Lichens 1250000 500000
    Pteridophytes
    Seed Plants 7000000 950000 600000
  • Date Founded

    1852

  • Updated

    21/12/2022

  • Associated Institution

    Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Wakehurst Place.

  • Incorporated Herbaria

    BRC;
    Fungi of BM;
    IMI;
    PHA;
    PSGB;
    SHYP;
    TKMN.

  • Important Collectors

    E. F. André, R. Baron, G. Bentham, M. J. Berkeley, W. Borrer, C. E. Broome, W. J. Burchell, G. C. Churchill, C. B. Clarke, M. C. Cooke, A. Cunningham, J. F. Duthie, J. R. Forster, J. G. A. Forster, J. S. Gamble, G. Gardner, J. E. Gay, A. Gonan, W. Hancock, R. M. Harley, A. Henry, G. B. Hinton, J. D. Hooker, W. J. Hooker, H. J. Howard, A. F. G. Kerr, F. C. Lehmann, J. Lightfoot, J. Lindley (K-L), J. T. Moggridge, T. Moore, P. D. Orton, T. Petch, R. C. A. Prior, C. Rea, J. P. Rottler, R. Spruce, K. Vollesen, N. Wallich (K-W), H. C. Watson (K-WA), E. A. Willmott, E. H. Wilson, J.R.I. Wood