Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Updated Nov 2012 (staff updates). Kew founded as a government institution in 1841; Kew herbarium and library founded in 1852. Total of 7 million specimens, including approximately 350 000 types. Digitisation of specimens is underway. Specimens of original Wallich Herbarium (K-W) not sent on loan. K lichens, bryophytes, and algae transferred to BM. Library and Archives information at http://www.kew.org/library/index.html. Worldwide vascular plants and larger fungi, especially rich in types and collections from Africa, tropical Asia, and Australasia; emphasis on families of major economic importance.