Living
collections: Kew | Wakehurst | Micropropagation
Unit | Regions and groups
Kew holds nineteen
major collections that serve different purposes and differ
markedly in size and complexity.
Together they comprise a unique global resource for the study
of plants and especially their diversity. The main collections
for which Kew has responsibility can be divided into three
main groups:
• living
and genetic resource collections
• preserved plant and fungal collections
• documentary and visual reference collections
The preserved and reference collections
are the crucial samples of plant diversity necessary for research
in
plant diversity.
They primarily serve the research needs of the scientific community
but also contain vast amounts of data relating to the distribution
and ecology of plant and fungal species that are important for
conservation purposes. The living and genetic resource collections
also support research but are of particular significance as an
ex situ safe haven for many plant species that are threatened
in the wild. The living collections are also the foundation of
Kew’s capacity to attract and inform the visiting public.
The documentary and visual reference collections add value to
the other collections and also comprise important elements of
Kew’s intellectual property that need to be safeguarded,
developed and used.
To increase access to and use of the collections, much of the
data associated with these collections is being made available
electronically.
For more information see http://www.kew.org/collections/index.htm
