Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

 North America - Buds and Stems

Buds

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

Stems

Branched

Heather Short, evergreen perennial shrub up to 1m/3ft tall. Branched stems Leaves numerous in opposite rows, smooth or hairy, undivided, alternate. Flowers purple, pink or white and bell shaped in spikes July - November

Horseradish Hardy perennial.50cm/2-3ft. Stems: erect, hollow, branching Leaves dark green, grow directly from ground large, slightly toothed crinkly. White flowers May - September. White tapering root

Bindweed Greater 3m/10ft tall Hairless plant. Stems twining, climbing Leaves arrow shaped, untoothed, alternate leaves. Flowers large white trumpets with yellow centres July – September

Ground pine American  Stems: long, creeping, yellow-green, scaly, 2mm in diameter, forked branches. Leaves: minute, scale like bearing cylindrical spikes of spore cases

Agrimony -Perennial that grows up to 250-100cm/20-40in high. Hairy, erect stems Mid green leaves with serrated edges and grow in alternate large and small pairs along dark green slender stem. Small bright yellow five petalled flowers on a tapering spike and are apricot scented. June – September

Bergamot Hardy perennial.60-90cm/2-3ft. Leaves - oval, toothed, pointed. Stem-hard, ridged, square, slightly hairy tinged red near leaves joints. Flowers-tight clusters, tubular, shaggy scarlet blooms June-August

Horseradish Hardy perennial.50cm/2-3ft. Stems: erect, hollow, branching Leaves dark green, grow directly from ground large, slightly toothed crinkly. White flowers May - September. White tapering root

Agrimony -Perennial that grows up to 250-100cm/20-40in high. Hairy, erect stems Mid green leaves with serrated edges and grow in alternate large and small pairs along dark green slender stem. Small bright yellow five petalled flowers on a tapering spike and are apricot scented. June – September

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

Bergamot Hardy perennial.60-90cm/2-3ft. Leaves - oval, toothed, pointed. Stem-hard, ridged, square, slightly hairy tinged red near leaves joints. Flowers-tight clusters, tubular, shaggy scarlet blooms June-August

Snakeroot Up to 35cm/14in, hairy stem, two kidney shaped leaves, creeping stockroot, brown/purple bell shaped flower that is white inside

Horseradish Hardy perennial.50cm/2-3ft. Stems: erect, hollow, branching Leaves dark green, grow directly from ground large, slightly toothed crinkly. White flowers May - September. White tapering root

Horsetail Perennial up to 90cm/3ft Cone bearing, hollow, grooved stems March-April

Jo pye weed Perennial herb up 3.5m/12ft. Sturdy, hollow purple stems. Leaves whorls up to 30cm/1ft across crushed leaves smell of apples

Balm of Gilead Evergreen perennial shrub or small tree. Height 120cm/4ft. Leaves-toothed, oval, aromatic. Stem-square, ridged, prickly-woody after the 2ed year. Flowers-pink clusters late summer-early autumn

Jo pye weed Perennial herb up 3.5m/12ft. Sturdy, hollow purple stems. Leaves whorls up to 30cm/1ft across crushed leaves smell of apples

Dodder Leafless red twining stems. Flowers tiny pink July- October. Twines anticlockwise over gorse and heather. Parasitic suckers

Balm of Gilead Evergreen perennial shrub or small tree. Height 120cm/4ft. Leaves-toothed, oval, aromatic. Stem-square, ridged, prickly-woody after the 2ed year. Flowers-pink clusters late summer-early autumn

Agrimony -Perennial that grows up to 250-100cm/20-40in high. Hairy, erect stems Mid green leaves with serrated edges and grow in alternate large and small pairs along dark green slender stem. Small bright yellow five petalled flowers on a tapering spike and are apricot scented. June – September

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

Balm of Gilead Evergreen perennial shrub or small tree. Height 120cm/4ft. Leaves-toothed, oval, aromatic. Stem-square, ridged, prickly-woody after the 2ed year. Flowers-pink clusters late summer-early autumn

Bergamot Hardy perennial.60-90cm/2-3ft. Leaves - oval, toothed, pointed. Stem-hard, ridged, square, slightly hairy tinged red near leaves joints. Flowers-tight clusters, tubular, shaggy scarlet blooms June-August

Bugle Creeping biennial or perennial 10-30cm/4-12in tall with a square-ish stem. Flowers: little, blue, pink or white, tubular April-July Leaves oval, opposite, lightly toothed and shiny

Ladys bedstraw Perennial spreading up to 40cm/16in Four angled slender stem Leaves: whorls of 8-12, downy underneath revolute margins. Flowers small numerous yellow and white which smell of honey June –September

Flag sweet Perennial, hairless up to 1.5m/5ft Leaves: grass like Stem: triangular Flowers: green/yellow May-June

Balm of Gilead Evergreen perennial shrub or small tree. Height 120cm/4ft. Leaves-toothed, oval, aromatic. Stem-square, ridged, prickly-woody after the 2ed year. Flowers-pink clusters late summer-early autumn

Centaury  Annual or biennial Hairless Up to 60cm/2ft Root-woody and fibrous. Leaves –opposite, ovate. Pink/Red flowers July-September five petals. Flowers open early morning but close around noon

Ground pine American  Stems: long, creeping, yellow-green, scaly, 2mm in diameter, forked branches. Leaves: minute, scale like bearing cylindrical spikes of spore cases

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

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