Medicinal plant index The Northwest Coastal Explorer
Scientists at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are embarking on a giant database of all the world’s medicinal plants to make herbal products safer. Currently there is no single register of medicinal plants, and most have between five and 40 Latin or scientific names. Kew’s Medicinal Plant Name Index ( MPNI) will categorise 1.6 million scientific plant names, including trade, pharmaceutical and common names, to provide an unambiguous and reference guide. In Western Europe, revenues for plant-based medicinal products exceed £4 billion, according to Kew. But when plants are mistakenly substituted for another it can lead to tragedy: in Belgium the mis-specification of a plant for treating kidney problems led to several deaths and 115 patients needing dialysis. The index will be freely available on the internet, raising the standard of medicinal plant knowledge. by Robert Steelquist Visit the region where giant redwood trees grow in abundance and find out all about their habitat. This new guide includes everything plant and nature lovers need to explore the Pacific Northwest coast of North America, with beautiful images and handy weekend itineraries for plant-filled adventures.
Timber Press, RRP £20.31