Herbs and Herbalism
Plant ID
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
Abrus precatorius –oval 3mm diameter, hard, polished
Blackcurrant Erect, deciduous, thornless shrub
up to 1.5m/5ft. Aromatic leaves when crushed. Leaves: large, stalked, rounded
3-5 lobed Flowers drooping stalked spikes April- May. Opaque black berries June
– July
Blackthorn Deciduous Thorny shrub or small tree up to 6m/20ft. Slate grey/black bark. Leaves appear in April after the flower -small & oval, alternate, finely toothed. Sharp spines, orange wood. White flowers - February to April 5 white petals Green berries in June Dark-blue berries around August. Ripe in October-November. Called sloes
Jasmine Perennial, climbing evergreen shrub
up to 10m/33ft, bright green leaves, star shaped white/pink flowers followed
by black berries
Nightshade black Erect annual herb up to 45cm. Leaves: ovate, lanceolate, acute apex. Flowers: small, violet. Berries: purple/black
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
Bacopa Monniera Herb Leaves: small, fleshy, sessile and kidney shaped Flowers: solitary blue or white with purple veins. Fruit: ovoid capsules
Nightshade black Erect annual herb up to 45cm. Leaves: ovate, lanceolate, acute apex. Flowers: small, violet. Berries: purple/black
Ashwagandha A woody shrub. Leaves: large, elliptical Flowers: green-yellow Fruit: red berry
Barberry Indian Small erect spiny shrub. Leaves:
elliptical. Flowers: yellow in racemes. Fruit: red berries
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
Cowberry Small evergreen shrub 40cm/16in high. Leaves leathery, oval untoothed. Flowers pink or white open in clusters May – July. Fruits red, spherical
Honeysuckle Woody climbing perennial up to
6m/20ft. Oval leaves. Flowers yellow/white, pink tinged. Tubular shaped followed
by orange or red berries
Schisandra A vine or liana with twisting stem up to 15m. Leaves: elliptical, alternate, wedge shaped base. Flowers: white or cream. Berries: small, ovoid, red in clusters
Asafoetida 6 - 10 ft Fleshy root with bristly fibres. Long, slim leaves. Green-yellow flowers. Flat reddish-brown fruit
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