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The Madagascar periwinkle is a tropical plant native to Madagascar, which is known for its beautiful pink and white flowers. It is one of the most important medicinal plants, as it contains several alkaloids that are used in the treatment of leukemia and other cancers. At Kew Gardens Palm House, visitors can see several varieties of Madagascar periwinkle, including the pure white variety known as 'Alba'. The plant is part of the wider collection of tropical and subtropical plants at the Palm House, which showcases the incredible diversity of plant life from around the world.
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Also known as the ivory-nut palm, this plant is native to the Amazon rainforest and is named after the belief that its fruit was once used by indigenous people to commit suicide. The fruit of the Suicide Palm is extremely hard and can be carved like ivory. It was once a valuable source of ivory-like nuts, which were used to make decorative items. Today, the plant is rare and protected due to the over-harvesting of its nuts.
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The Palm House at Kew Gardens is home to a collection of ancient cycads, which are some of the oldest living plants on Earth. These plants are known for their distinctive shape and are believed to have been around for more than 300 million years. The collection at Kew includes specimens from around the world, including Africa, Asia, and South America. The ancient cycads at Kew Gardens are an important part of the plant collection, providing insight into the history and evolution of plant life on Earth.
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