A snapshot into medicinal plants and their healing capabilities.

From capsicum, peppermint, licorice, and tea tree to the toothache plant and queen’s delight, this Kew Pocketbook is an exploration of some of the most important and commonly used medicinal plants, showcased through forty stunning paintings from the Kew archives. As the vital source behind a vast and varied array of contemporary drugs, these plants have been utilized with life-restoring rewards across the world.

The Library and Archives at Kew is one of the most extensive botanical libraries in the world, with the oldest item dating back to the 1370s. In this pocketbook series from Kew, each book presents forty botanical paintings from the collections, illustrating the variety within each group, as well as the diversity of the collection and artistic styles. An introductory chapter by a Kew expert provides an overview of this plant group, and extended captions accompany each painting.