Poisonous plants

From foxglove, deadly nightshade, hemlock and yew to lily of the valley and angel’s trumpet, this Kew Pocketbook is an exploration of some of the most commonplace and dangerous poisonous plants, showcased through 40 stunning paintings from the Kew archives.

Producing toxins to defend themselves and often displaying their toxicity in bold colours and patterns, these plants can be harmful and even deadly to humans and animals.

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 40 botanical paintings from the collections, illustrating the variety within each group, as well as the diversity of the collection and artistic styles.