The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific organization, globally respected for its outstanding collections as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. Its remit includes all aspects of botany and fungal research, with dedicated departments for species identification, biodiversity informatics, and comparative plant and fungal biology, among others. Kew Gardens in London, UK, is a major international visitor attraction, which was accredited as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
The world's oldest potted plant is a prickly cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii), which was brought from South Africa to the UK and planted in 1775. The cycad is on display in the Palm House at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in Surrey, UK.
