Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

Africa - Buds, Flowers and Seeds

Yellow

Balm Herbaceous perennial. 90cm/3ft. Stem-hairy and square. Leaves-opposite, stalked, hairy, 3-4cm long, ovate, wrinkled, coarse serrate margin, rounded base and lemon scented. Flower-small yellow buds that turn into white or pink flowers June-August

Brown

Henbane Annual or biennial bushy herbaceous, 50-80cm/20-32in tall. Stems: erect, unbranched with soft white hairs Sticky, smelly foliage. Up to 80cm Leaves: alternate, ovate or oblong, toothed, stalkless and hairy Lower leaves: stalked and hairy Flowers yellow/brown purple veined corolla tubes with leafy bracts June – October Fruit: Smooth green in a five toothed cup

Bonesetter Shrub. Stem: thick, fleshy, ridged, quadrangular. Leaves fleshy, alternate, ovate, serrate margin. Flowers: small. Yellow-green

Calamus Reed like aquatic plant 1m/3ft tall, sword shaped leaves, green/yellow flowers

Aloe Evergreen perennial 30cm/1ft. The root in very fibrous, strong and light brown in colour. The leaves are long, tapering and fleshy. In each leaf is a clear gelatinous sap. Yellow or orange flowers

Kidney vetch Low growing typical vetch, hairy up to 50cm tall leaves in opposites along the stem with a single leaf at the end. Flowers pale yellow-orange-red clusters May-October

Balm Herbaceous perennial. 90cm/3ft. Stem-hairy and square. Leaves-opposite, stalked, hairy, 3-4cm long, ovate, wrinkled, coarse serrate margin, rounded base and lemon scented. Flower-small yellow buds that turn into white or pink flowers June-August

Fenugreek Annual. 60cm/2ft. Taproot, hollow and hairy. Leaves- finely toothed three leaflets. Flowers creamy white or pink June - August. Followed by seeds pods contain sixteen yellow brown pebble shaped seeds  

Hemp agrimony  Perennial, hairy 90-150cm/36-60in Stems: red-purple tinged, stiff, erect, angular, rough Leaves: palmate, grey/green toothed, three lobed, mostly paired. Flowers protruding stamens, massed together forming broad, flat top clusters, usually pink/purple occasionally white. Tubular

Belladonna Perennial herb. Thick, whitish root, erect, branching purplish stem. Height 60-150cm/2-5ft. Leaves-dark green, long up to 25cm, pointed oval, stalked, entire margin. Drooping, solitary, bell shaped dull purple flowers, bourne at base of leaves bloom, yellow stamens June-August. Black berries-August-November. Foul smell if plant is crushed.

Calamintha Bushy perennial less then 1m/3ft high, soft oval, slightly serrated, stalked leaves, pale purple flowers

Couch grass Perennial. Up to 1.5m/5ft Flowers: purple June-October

Cowhage Evergreen climber. Leaves: downy. Flowers: purple or white in clusters, covered in orange or brown bristles

 Hemp agrimony  Perennial, hairy 90-150cm/36-60in Stems: red-purple tinged, stiff, erect, angular, rough Leaves: palmate, grey/green toothed, three lobed, mostly paired. Flowers protruding stamens, massed together forming broad, flat top clusters, usually pink/purple occasionally white. Tubular

Kidney vetch Low growing typical vetch, hairy up to 50cm tall leaves in opposites along the stem with a single leaf at the end. Flowers pale yellow-orange-red clusters May-October

Nightshade black Erect annual herb up to 45cm. Leaves: ovate, lanceolate, acute apex. Flowers: small, violet. Berries: purple/black

Savory summer Annual herb up to 45cm/1˝ ft, slender erect slightly hairy purple stems, small pale lilac flowers August -October

Bittersweet Perennial up to 2m, creeping, climber Leaves stalked oval to lanceolate, alternate become more pointed towards top of stem Bark: ashen grey with age Flowers: violet 5 petals small yellow stamens May-September Berries: green then yellow then red, oval

Balm Herbaceous perennial. 90cm/3ft. Stem-hairy and square. Leaves-opposite, stalked, hairy, 3-4cm long, ovate, wrinkled, coarse serrate margin, rounded base and lemon scented. Flower-small yellow buds that turn into white or pink flowers June-August

Carrot seed Annual or biennial or perennial herb. Tough white root, hairy fern-like leaves, stems erect and often branched white lacy flowers outer florets larger than inner ones, cushion shaped June – September 50-100cm/20-40in tall.3 forked or pinnate bracts around flower head

Cayenne Annual or biennial. Flowers: White Fruit: Red

Coffee Leaves: glossy Flower: white star shaped

Cowhage Evergreen climber. Leaves: downy. Flowers: purple or white in clusters, covered in orange or brown bristles

Fenugreek Annual. 60cm/2ft. Taproot, hollow and hairy. Leaves- finely toothed three leaflets. Flowers creamy white or pink June - August. Followed by seeds pods contain sixteen yellow brown pebble shaped seed 

Hemp agrimony  Perennial, hairy 90-150cm/36-60in Stems: red-purple tinged, stiff, erect, angular, rough Leaves: palmate, grey/green toothed, three lobed, mostly paired. Flowers protruding stamens, massed together forming broad, flat top clusters, usually pink/purple occasionally white. Tubular

Honeysuckle Woody climbing perennial up to 6m/20ft. Oval leaves. Flowers yellow/white, pink tinged. Tubular shaped followed by orange or red berries

Monsonia Stems: branched up to 30cm/1ft Leaves: opposite, very small, stalked, ovate, serrate Flowers: white solitary or in pairs on one penduncle

Cuckoo Flower Perennial herb, almost hairless stems up to 30cm/1ft with a rosette of stalked pinnate leaves Flowers start lilac turn white four petals, stalked April – June

Buchu Small shrub with wrinkled, serrated leaves. Five petalled white flowers

Caraway Annual/Biennial, hairless. Average growing height 60 cm/24 in Smooth, furrowed stems. Finely cut leaves and large umbels of white flowers May- June

Aloe Evergreen perennial 30cm/1ft. The root in very fibrous, strong and light brown in colour. The leaves are long, tapering and fleshy. In each leaf is a clear gelatinous sap. Yellow or orange flowers

Ambrette Seed An evergreen annual or biannual shrub –around 1.5m/5ft tall, yellow flowers with a purple centre and bristly hairs. Seeds: grey-brown kidney shaped, 3mm in diameter

Bonesetter Shrub. Stem: thick, fleshy, ridged, quadrangular. Leaves fleshy, alternate, ovate, serrate margin. Flowers: small. Yellow-green

Calamus Reed like aquatic plant 1m/3ft tall, sword shaped leaves, green/yellow flowers 

Caltrops Thorny perennial creeper. Flowers: pale yellow. Leaves: pinnate 

Chamomile Maroc 90-125cm tall, hairy leaves, yellow flowers surrounded by white ligulets 

Coltsfoot Perennial Stems: fleshy, stocky, purplish scales. 10-25cm/4-10in tall. Leaves: appear after flowering, basal, rounded and long stalked with heart shaped base appear end of April. Flowers: Bright golden daisy like, petals narrow and many February – April. Flowers appear before the leaves. Seeds make a dandelion clock 

Damiana Small shrub. Leaves ovate, pale green, 1-2.5cm long, 6mm broad, shortly stalked, serrated, recurved margin. Flowers yellow and aromatic

Henbane Annual or biennial bushy herbaceous, 50-80cm/20-32in tall. Stems: erect, unbranched with soft white hairs Sticky, smelly foliage. Up to 80cm Leaves: alternate, ovate or oblong, toothed, stalkless and hairy Lower leaves: stalked and hairy Flowers yellow/brown purple veined corolla tubes with leafy bracts June – October Fruit: Smooth green in a five toothed cup 

Honeysuckle Woody climbing perennial up to 6m/20ft. Oval leaves. Flowers yellow/white, pink tinged. Tubular shaped followed by orange or red berries

Karela Slender, branched climbing shrub. Leaves: kidney shaped, lobed. Flowers: yellow Fruit: similar to cucumber with ridges or soft spines up to 7cm

Kidney vetch Low growing typical vetch, hairy up to 50cm tall leaves in opposites along the stem with a single leaf at the end. Flowers pale yellow-orange-red clusters May-October

Mignonette Annual 15-30cm/ ˝ -1 ft Flowers: yellow

Stonecrop yellow Hairless 5-10cm/2-4in Short stems Leaves: oval, fleshy Flowers: bright yellow June- July

Yellow 5 Petals

Avens Perennial 30-60cm/1-2 ft. Hairy stems Leaves in groups of 3, long stalked  Flowers: yellow, solitary 5 petals May-October

Belladonna Perennial herb. Thick, whitish root, erect, branching purplish stem. Height 60-150cm/2-5ft. Leaves-dark green, long up to 25cm, pointed oval, stalked, entire margin. Drooping, solitary, bell shaped dull purple flowers, bourne at base of leaves bloom, yellow stamens June-August. Black berries-August-November. Foul smell if plant is crushed.

Coltsfoot Perennial Stems: fleshy, stocky, purplish scales. 10-25cm/4-10in tall. Leaves: appear after flowering, basal, rounded and long stalked with heart shaped base appear end of April. Flowers: Bright golden daisy like, petals narrow and many February – April. Flowers appear before the leaves. Seeds make a dandelion clock

Abrus precatorius –oval 3mm diameter, hard, polished

Belladonna Perennial herb. Thick, whitish root, erect, branching purplish stem. Height 60-150cm/2-5ft. Leaves-dark green, long up to 25cm, pointed oval, stalked, entire margin. Drooping, solitary, bell shaped dull purple flowers, bourne at base of leaves bloom, yellow stamens June-August. Black berries-August-November. Foul smell if plant is crushed.

Red

Bittersweet Perennial up to 2m, creeping, climber Leaves stalked oval to lanceolate, alternate become more pointed towards top of stem Bark: ashen grey with age Flowers: violet 5 petals small yellow stamens May-September Berries: green then yellow then red, oval

Cayenne Annual or biennial. Flowers: White Fruit: Red

Honeysuckle Woody climbing perennial up to 6m/20ft. Oval leaves. Flowers yellow/white, pink tinged. Tubular shaped followed by orange or red berries

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