Rex Trulove
To many people, if not most, the term, “Herb” conjures up thoughts of plants or plant parts that are added to food to enhance the flavor. However, this is only part of what the word actually means.
Even if we expand the term to include plants that are used for culinary purposes, for medicinal purposes, or for aromatic purposes, we still wouldn’t be using the term accurately. Indeed, many culinary herbs are highly aromatic and all culinary herbs have medicinal applications, but such a definition would exclude a huge number of plants that are technically herbs. This can cause a little bit of confusion.
For example, the plant known as foxglove or digitalis is quite poisonous if eaten, it isn’t very aromatic, and it isn’t normally used medicinally in its raw state except by trained herbalists and naturopaths, yet it is an herb. After being refined, foxglove yields the drug, digitalin.
Foxglove or digitalis
Some folks might say, “Since it does have a medicinal purpose, even if it is normally after refinement, it is obviously an herb.” This would be incorrect. Willow, specifically willow cambium, also has medicinal uses, yet willow isn’t an herb.
The fact is that there are many plants that have no uses as food, medicine, and they aren’t aromatic, yet they are herbs. What is it that makes an herb an herb, and why isn’t willow an herb? This is actually easy to understand.
River willow
Herbs are plants that don’t lay down woody material in their stems and branches. They can be annual, biennial, or perennial, but they lack the wood that gives some plants, most noticeably trees and bushes, their structural strength. Willow contains a core of wood in its stems, limbs, and branches, so it isn’t an herb.
Foxglove, daffodils, asparagus, lotuses, water lilies, daisies, pansies, lavender, trillium, begonias, onions, petunias, and so many more are all herbs, not because they can flavor foods or be eaten, not because they have medicinal value, and not because they have a strong or agreeable aroma, but because they don’t have a woody core.
In fact, the word for the trait of not having a woody core is called, “herbaceous”. It is this single trait that defines what is meant by the term, ‘herb’.
I thought that medicines made from plants at home are called herbs.
Sometimes, they are, but not always. All herbs that are used for seasoning food also have medicinal value. However, some are woody, too, like nutmeg and mace.
Good to know. I did not know. Thanks.
It is a very good thing any time I have the chance to teach someone and they have the chance to learn.
How interesting, I always learn so much with your posts. Did not know that about the foxglove and other flowers.
Yep. That is why plants are divided into herbaceous and woody plants.