Icons of Kew (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781842468586)

This marvelous compendium is a celebration of the diverse collections and vital work of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

This stunning book showcases more than seventy iconic plants, buildings, and objects from Kew's expansive collections. Uncover curiosities of nature and fascinating relics, including coffee beans recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun, contemporary botanical illustrations, and the vast and unusual Titan Arum or corpse flower, which famously blooms with a foul smell for a fleeting twenty-four hours.

Icons of Kew charts the history of the UNESCO World Heritage site from origins as a historic palace, the royal refuge of King George III, to a globally renowned scientific institution for plant and fungal science. Explore the broad range of Kew's conservation work with intricate seventeenth-century artworks, restored Victorian glasshouses, and recent research efforts, such as those to preserve the critically endangered smallest waterlily in the world. Icons of Kew is beautifully illustrated throughout with color photography and archival artwork.