Dill
Herbs are the type of plant that has been most successful in colonizing planet Earth. They have a very fast growth rate, practically all the seeds that fall to the ground germinate, and they adapt to everything, being able to develop even in the small holes that are sometimes in the asphalt or on the sidewalks.
But What exactly are herbaceous plants? How are they characterized?
What are herbs?
Basil
Herbs are plants that do not have woody stems as trees or shrubs have them; in fact, in most cases these stems are green and can break very easily. The leaves are also green in color, and can be narrow in the case of graminoids, or wide in the case of forbias.
The flowers are usually grouped in terminal inflorescenceseither spike-shaped, in clusters or in groups. These are pollinated by all kinds of pollinating insects: bees, wasps, ants, among others. Once the seeds have matured, the wind disperses them, carrying them away from the mother plants.
Types of herbs
We found four types of herbs:
Annual
They are those that germinate, grow, flower, bear fruit and finally die in just a few months. The growth rate of these plants is the fastest that plant beings can have, if we take into account their short life expectancy.
Examples
Poppy
His scientific name is Papaver rhoeasand it is a well-known herb that develops erect stems up to 60-80 centimeters tall. Its flowers are red, and they sprout during the spring.
Corn
El corn, whose scientific name is zea maysis one of the most economically important plants that exist today. It is a cereal that reaches a height of 1 metersometimes more, with a single erect stem from which lanceolate leaves sprout.
Vivacious or perennial
The life cycle of these plants lasts more than two years. Some remain ‘whole’ during all the months, but there are others that let their aerial part (leaves and stems) die after flowering; the latter are bulbous, tuberculous and also many rhizomatous.
Examples
Carnation
His scientific name is Dianthus caryophyllusand it is an herb that can reach the meter in height. It produces very pretty red, pink, white and even bicolor flowers.
gain
It is an herb that reaches a height of about 30-35 centimeterswith daisy-shaped flowers that open with the sun and close when it is ‘hidden’.
megaphorbias
Are the calls giant herbs. They have the same characteristics as common perennial herbs, but grow to a much larger size.
Examples
Date
Known as phoenix, tamara or common palm, it is a palm tree that reaches 30 meters in height with one or more logs no more than 50 centimeters thick. Its leaves are pinnate, up to 5 meters long, and bluish-green in color.
Malay banana
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Miya.m
Also known as the red banana, it is one of the progenitors of the commercial banana. Its scientific name is Acuminate museit is an herb that reaches a height of 7 meterswith long and broad green leaves.
Types of edible herbaceous plants
If you would like to know what herbs you can use to prepare different dishes, write down:
Chard
His scientific name is Beta vulgaris var. cycleand is a biennial herb native to southern Europe whose leaves they are commonly consumed in salads.
Calendula
It is an annual or perennial herb, depending on the climate, native to the temperate regions of Europe, especially the South. The flowers, daisy-shaped, they are used as colorantand the leaves in salads.
Dandelion
His scientific name is Taraxacum officinaleand is an annual herb native to Europe from which the leaves and flowers are used to make salads and wines.
Asparagus
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Frank Vincentz
It is a very common perennial plant throughout the Mediterranean basin, whose scientific name is horrible asparagus. Its suckers are gathered tender, and with them various dishes are prepared: in tortillas, soups, salads … But be careful: be very careful, because it is well armed with thorns; although the flavor of these asparagus is delicious .
Nettle
Plants of the genus Urtica they are found practically all over the world. They are usually annual or biannual, with leaves and stems covered by small thorns that, at the slightest contact with the skin, causes intense itching and pain. But these leaves they can be perfectly consumed in saladsshaking them before strongly immersed in water.
Parsley
This biennial herb, whose scientific name is Crispy parsleyis native to the central zone of the Mediterranean region. It is used to flavor different disheslike fish and shellfish, often along with garlic.
Herbaceous plants are among the most abundant on the planet. But as you have seen, there are many that have some use for humans. Did you find it interesting?
