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[Should the title be "Heritage Trees" or "Important Trees"]

Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, also known as KRBG, is home to many important trees and plants, as well as being a leading centre for exploration, conservation and identification. KRBG has , however, are some exceptional plants, particularly trees. These are split into two classifications, 'The Old Lions' and the Heritage Trees.

'The Old Lions' is the name given to the few remaining trees from the original plantings in the then newly-created 5-acre Kew arboretum in 1762. This was laid out by William Alton, close to the Orangery with plants from the Duke of Argyll's estate at Whitton. He was the uncle of Lord Bute, the botanical advisor of Princess Augusta, who founded the gardens.

The Old Lions are:

• Caucasian elm - Zelkova carpinifolia
• False acacia - Robinia pseudoacacia
• Maidenhair tree - Ginkgo biloba
• Oriental plane - Platanus orientalis
• Pagoda tree - Sophora japonica

Kew also has some of the best examples of trees from around the world dating back to the early 18th Century. Some were the first examples to be planted in the UK.

They are:

• English oak - Quercus robur
• Holm oak - Quercus ilex
• Chestnut-leaved oak - Quercus castaneifolia
• Lucombe oak - Quercus x hispanica 'lucombeana'
• Turner's oak - Quercus x turneri
• Indian horse chestnut - Aesculus indica 'Sidney Pearce'
• Sweet chestnut
  - Castanea sativa
• Corsican pine - Pinus nigra ssp laricio
• Stone pine - Pinus pinea
• North American tulip tree - Liriodendron tulipifera and Liriodendron chenense

This series of Entries describes each of these trees, both the sample that is in Kew and the species in general. Just follow the link on the name of the tree.