# Kew POWO Plants of the World Online Scraper (`jungle_synthesizer/kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper`) Actor Scrape Kew POWO — the global authoritative plant taxonomy backbone (1.4M names, WCVP). Returns full classification, accepted/synonym status, native distribution, lifeform, synonyms, and child taxa. Search by name, family, or genus. - **URL**: https://apify.com/jungle\_synthesizer/kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [BowTiedRaccoon](https://apify.com/jungle_synthesizer) (community) - **Categories:** AI, Developer tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per event This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Kew POWO Plants of the World Online Scraper Scrape the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew **Plants of the World Online (POWO)** database — the global authoritative taxonomic backbone for vascular plants. Search by name, family, or genus and retrieve full taxonomic records including classification, native distribution (TDWG region codes), synonyms, lifeform, and bibliographic citations for up to 1.4 million taxonomic names (WCVP). ### What Is POWO? [Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org) is maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is the authoritative name-resolution backbone that GBIF, iNaturalist, and most botanical data pipelines reconcile against — covering approximately 400,000 accepted vascular plant species plus over 1 million synonyms, varieties, and infraspecific taxa. ### What Data Is Returned? Each record includes: - **Identity**: POWO fqId (LSID), IPNI identifier, scientific name, author citation, rank, taxonomic status - **Classification**: full lineage from kingdom to species (Plantae, Streptophyta, class, subclass, order, family, genus, species) - **Distribution**: native TDWG region codes (pipe-separated, e.g. `GBR|IRE|FRA|...`) - **Names**: synonyms (pipe-separated), basionym reference, accepted name for synonyms - **Profile**: lifeform (tree / shrub / herb), climate zone, year published, bibliographic citation, nomenclatural code and status - **Taxonomy counts**: number of accepted child taxa (subspecies / varieties / species within a genus) - **Media**: primary profile image URL, canonical POWO page URL ### Input | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `query` | string | Name query (e.g. `Quercus`, `Rosaceae`, `Quercus robur`). Leave empty to enumerate all taxa. | | `familyFilter` | string | Restrict to a specific plant family (e.g. `Fagaceae`). | | `rankFilter` | string | Filter by rank: `SPECIES`, `SUBSPECIES`, `VARIETY`, `GENUS`, `FAMILY`. | | `acceptedOnly` | boolean | Return only taxonomically accepted names (default: false). | | `hydrateTaxa` | boolean | Fetch full taxon detail per result (default: true). Set false for lightweight search-only data. | | `maxItems` | integer | Maximum number of records to return. | ### Example Use Cases **All accepted oak species:** ```json { "query": "Quercus", "rankFilter": "SPECIES", "acceptedOnly": true, "maxItems": 500 } ```` **Full Rosaceae family export:** ```json { "familyFilter": "Rosaceae", "maxItems": 60000 } ``` **Single species lookup:** ```json { "query": "Quercus robur", "maxItems": 10 } ``` ### Notes - Polite use: this actor uses 800 ms inter-request delay as requested by Kew's conscientious-use notice. - With `hydrateTaxa: true` (default), each result triggers a second API call to the taxon endpoint for full classification, distribution, and synonym data. - Native distribution uses TDWG WGSRPD region codes (e.g. `GBR`, `FRA`, `SPA_SP`). - No API key required. The POWO API is fully public. ### Data Source - **API**: `https://powo.science.kew.org/api/2/` - **Underlying database**: World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) and IPNI - **Publisher**: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew # Actor input Schema ## `sp_intended_usage` (type: `string`): Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler. ## `sp_improvement_suggestions` (type: `string`): Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements. ## `sp_contact` (type: `string`): Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you. ## `query` (type: `string`): Name query to search POWO (e.g. "Quercus", "Rosaceae", "Quercus robur"). Leave empty to enumerate all taxa. ## `familyFilter` (type: `string`): Restrict results to a specific plant family (e.g. "Rosaceae", "Fagaceae"). Applied in addition to the query. Leave empty for all families. ## `rankFilter` (type: `string`): Filter by taxonomic rank. Options: SPECIES, SUBSPECIES, VARIETY, GENUS, FAMILY. Leave empty for all ranks. ## `acceptedOnly` (type: `boolean`): When true, only return taxonomically accepted names (excludes synonyms). ## `hydrateTaxa` (type: `boolean`): When true (default), fetch the full taxon record from the POWO taxon API for each search result. Provides complete classification, distribution, synonyms, and child taxa. Disable to return only the lightweight search-result fields. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of records to scrape ## Actor input object example ```json { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "query": "Quercus robur", "acceptedOnly": false, "hydrateTaxa": true, "maxItems": 10 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "query": "Quercus robur", "maxItems": 10 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "query": "Quercus robur", "maxItems": 10, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "query": "Quercus robur", "maxItems": 10 }' | apify call jungle_synthesizer/kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=jungle_synthesizer/kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Kew POWO Plants of the World Online Scraper", "description": "Scrape Kew POWO — the global authoritative plant taxonomy backbone (1.4M names, WCVP). Returns full classification, accepted/synonym status, native distribution, lifeform, synonyms, and child taxa. Search by name, family, or genus.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "NW2WaVafoiDbUY9cM" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-jungle_synthesizer-kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-jungle_synthesizer-kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-jungle_synthesizer-kew-powo-plants-of-the-world-online-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "maxItems" ], "properties": { "sp_intended_usage": { "title": "What is the intended usage of this data?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler." }, "sp_improvement_suggestions": { "title": "How can we improve this crawler for you?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements." }, "sp_contact": { "title": "Contact Email", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you." }, "query": { "title": "Search Query", "type": "string", "description": "Name query to search POWO (e.g. \"Quercus\", \"Rosaceae\", \"Quercus robur\"). Leave empty to enumerate all taxa." }, "familyFilter": { "title": "Family Filter", "type": "string", "description": "Restrict results to a specific plant family (e.g. \"Rosaceae\", \"Fagaceae\"). Applied in addition to the query. Leave empty for all families." }, "rankFilter": { "title": "Rank Filter", "enum": [ "", "SPECIES", "SUBSPECIES", "VARIETY", "GENUS", "FAMILY" ], "type": "string", "description": "Filter by taxonomic rank. Options: SPECIES, SUBSPECIES, VARIETY, GENUS, FAMILY. Leave empty for all ranks." }, "acceptedOnly": { "title": "Accepted Names Only", "type": "boolean", "description": "When true, only return taxonomically accepted names (excludes synonyms).", "default": false }, "hydrateTaxa": { "title": "Hydrate Full Taxon Data", "type": "boolean", "description": "When true (default), fetch the full taxon record from the POWO taxon API for each search result. Provides complete classification, distribution, synonyms, and child taxa. Disable to return only the lightweight search-result fields.", "default": true }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of records to scrape" } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```