Winter 2010

contents

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features

16Treasure keeper David Mabberley talks to Gail Vines about his wide-ranging role running Kew’s Herbarium, Library, Art & Archives 18Extended opportunities

Juliette Jowit explores Kew’s historic Herbarium and the advantages offered by its newly completed extension 24Peak performers Richard Wilford goes in search of exquisite alpines and the intrepid plant hunters who first brought them to our gardens

30Trouble in paradise Colin Clubbe travels to the remote Indian Ocean islands of Chagos to help assess and restore their native flora

38Outof Africa Kew’s Henk Beentje reports on a 62-year project to record the plants of tropical East Africa

42Counting the cost How can putting a monetary value on biodiversity help combat its destruction? Georgina Langdale explains

46Riches of the Caribbean Emma Townshend traces the origins of one of the most lavish books in Kew’s Library

48Abean feast Kew’s botanists discover new plant species on a regular basis – Gwilym Lewis savours some fascinating new legumes

50Granting success William Milliken looks at the abundant benefits of a project that enabled Latin American botanists to study at Kew

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