forbs

Forbs are herbaceous flowering plants that are not grasses, sedges, or rushes. They are typically broad-leaved and lack woody stems, and they can be annual, biennial, or perennial. In ecology and land management, the term forbs is used to describe non-grass, non-woody herbaceous species within plant communities.

They include a wide diversity of species across many families, ranging from low-growing groundcovers to tall wildflowers. Many are flowering dicotyledons. Examples include dandelion, poppy, clover, foxglove, milkweed, coneflower, aster, sunflower, and primrose. They occupy habitats such as meadows, prairies, deserts, woodland clearings, wetlands, and agricultural fields.

Ecologically, forbs contribute to biodiversity, provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, and support herbivores. They can improve soil health through diverse root systems and, in some cases, nitrogen fixation (as with legumes). In restoration and agroecology, forb diversity supports resilience to drought and pests and enhances forage quality. The term is a functional category rather than a formal taxonomic group.