(a species of owlet moth (Noctuid)) Some caterpillars, after they emerge from their egg, can increase their weight by 25,000 times.

Skip to page content

Primary navigation

Plants and fungi

Without plants and fungi, we wouldn’t exist. They clean the air that we breathe, and provide us with food, materials and medicine. Find out if there is any truth in old wives’ tales of herbal remedies, and attract bees, butterflies and bats to your garden by choosing local species of plants.

  • Cowslips, Primula veris, in the wildlife garden at the Museum
    Plant identification forum

    Post your photos here and ask questions about British plants, from seaweeds to sundews and bluebells to bracken. Museum experts will help identify them for you.

  • Bladder wrack, Fucus vesiculosus
    Big Seaweed Search

    Take a walk along the coast and help us monitor the effects of climate change and invasive species on the UK's seaweeds.

  • Exploring British Wildlife: Bluebells
    Exploring British Wildlife: Bluebells

    Find out about Britain's favourite flower and take a look at the results of the Museum's annual bluebell survey. Are bluebells flowering earlier than they used to? What have past surveys revealed about the spread of non-native bluebells?

  • Golden shield lichen, Xanthoria parientina, a common lichen.
    Lichens

    Explore the amazing diversity of lichens and find out why they are the canaries of the fungal world.

  • Xanthoria parietina, golden shield lichen
    Lichens and air pollution

    Watch the video to find out what the golden shield lichen, and others, can tell us about the air quality in our local areas.

  • The lichen Xanthoria parietina
    A guide to lichens on twigs

    Use this interactive guide to help you identify lichens on twigs in your local area.  Lichens are very sensitive to pollution so they are a good guide to the health of the environment where you live.

  • Brixton market
    Roots and Herbs - Exploring Jamaica's plant heritage

    Discover how Jamaican plants were used in Sloane's time and compare their modern day uses. Can you help us find out more about them?

  • Country cures
    Country cures

    Plants have been used to treat illnesses and ailments for centuries. Pass on the knowledge and let us know your herbal remedies.

  • Plant paintings from HMS Endeavour
    Plant paintings

    Browse the botanical drawings from onboard HMS Endeavour (1768–1771) – the first voyage devoted exclusively to scientific discovery.

  • The postcode plants database
    The postcode plants database

    Find out why it makes sense for gardeners to plant native plants and which species are right for your garden.

  • Seeds of trade
    Seeds of trade

    People rely on plants for far more than foodstuffs. Explore the fascinating history of cultivation and its impacts on society today.

  • Trees: Magnificent structures
    Trees: Magnificent structures

    How have trees managed to evolve into 80,000 species, from tiny arctic willows to giant redwoods? Discover the secrets of their success.

  • Petunia hybrida
    The solanaceae as food: A natural history of the potato family

    Explore the incredible diversity of this amazing plant family, including potatoes, tomatoes and a host of other important fruit crops.

  • Plant mounting at the Museum
    The art of plant mounting - 16/08/2006 (video)

    The museum is host to over 6 million plant specimens, Andrea Hallaway describes the processes each specimen goes through.

  • Specie of Actinoptychus
    Diatom specimens - 01/01/2010

    Zoom in on stunning magnified images of diatoms

  • Nettle plant
    Museum Nettle Day - 16/08/2006 (video)

    Join botanist Roy Vickery as he explore the much maligned plant, part of national Be Nice to Nettles Week.

Print version