Kew Royal Botanical Gardens is famous for its breathtaking displays of flowers and trees, but it is also an internationally important scientific and historical organization. This opulent volume explores the world of Kew, particularly its conservation work, which includes the Millennium Seed Bank—part of a worldwide effort to safeguard 24,000 plant species against extinction. Martin Knowlden also looks at the Gardens' many others projects, from the use of forensic botany in solving crimes to the investigation of herbal cures for Alzheimer's disease. In addition, it profiles Kew's magnificent buildings and explains how their sustainable gardens are managed to conserve water, resources, and energy.