Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

Europe - Fruit

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

Bilberry Deciduous shrub. Hairless twigs, height 20-50cm/8-12in. Leaves oval, slight toothed, very short stalked. Flowers solitary, drooping, green/pink April-June. Fruit – small, round, black July – September

Blackberry Biennial 1m width 3-4m Stems: woody, branched, prickly Leaves: dark green trifoliate prickly, toothed, red/purple in autumn. Flowers five petals pink or white May-September. Fruit comprises of drupelets turning green to red to black August-October

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

Broom Perennial, deciduous branched shrub up to 2m fairly straight, erect branches tall Leaves: lower leaves are alternate, trifoliate whilst higher leaves sessile Flowers: yellow May-June Fruit: elongated, hairy pods green-black

Buckthorn Perennial spiny deciduous shrub or small tree up to 8m Leaves alternate, opposite Flowers: Greenish groups of 2-8 May-June Fruit Black berries, globular 8-10mm September

Cade Large evergreen shrub up to 4m/13ft high, dark needles, brown/black berries

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

Broom Perennial, deciduous branched shrub up to 2m fairly straight, erect branches tall Leaves: lower leaves are alternate, trifoliate whilst higher leaves sessile Flowers: yellow May-June Fruit: elongated, hairy pods green-black

Barberry Perennial thorny deciduous bush up to 3m tall. Pale green to pale grey bark. Leaves: short stalked spiny teeth Flowers: yellow May-June Fruit: purple berries

Bearberry Evergreen shrub. Up to 20cm/8in. Trailing stems and branches. Leaves-dark green , paler under surface, spatulate, ovate, leathery, 2cm long, 0.5-1cm wide, margins entire. Flowers-clusters, white, pinkish flowers bloom May-August. Bright red berries in autumn.

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

Bryony white Hairless perennial climber. Leaves: heart shaped. Flowers: six petalled May. Berries: crimson, egg shaped

Bryony white Perennial, climbing. Stems: weak, hairy arising from a perennial rootstock Root: like a turnip yellow/grey on the outside, white on the inside Flowers: green/white star shaped with five petals June-September. Fruit: red berries

Butcher’s broom Evergreen shrub. Flowers: small, whitish Berry: scarlet

Cowberry Small evergreen shrub 40cm/16in high. Leaves leathery, oval untoothed. Flowers pink or white open in clusters May – July. Fruits red, spherical

Cuckoo pint 15-35cm/6-14in tall. Hairless, fleshy with long stalked untoothed arrow shaped dark green leaves often covered in dark blotches. Flower: chocolate brown spike enclosed in large pointed green hood. Spathe yellow/green April-May Fruit: red berries

Mezereon Deciduous shrub up to 1.5m/5ft. Stem: grey Leaves short stalked up to 8cm long, hairless Flowers pink, cylindrical clusters February-April Fruit: Red berries

Raspberry Slender perennial shrub up to 2m/6ft slightly spiny. Leaves toothed, oval often whitish beneath, stalked, pinnate, 3-5 leaflets up to 12cm. Leaflets ovate, acuminate, rounded at base, toothed margin Flowers small white in clusters Fruit red fruit berry formed by drupelets July – September

Agaricus – Fomes officinalis faull

Amadou –hoof shaped on oak& beech trees

Ergot Parasitic fungus black spindle shaped, purplish up to 3cm long

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