herbaceus

Herbaceus is a Latin adjective used in botanical Latin to describe a plant habit that is non-woody. In English, the corresponding term is herbaceous. It indicates that the plant's stems and above-ground tissues are soft, green, and relatively non-lignified, in contrast to wood. In taxonomic descriptions, herbaceus (masculine), herbacea (feminine), or herbaceum (neuter) are used to denote a herbaceous habit.

Herbaceous plants include the majority of annuals and many perennials. They may be annuals that complete their life cycle in a single season, or perennials that die back to the ground during unfavorable seasons and resprout from permanent underground organs such as rhizomes, bulbs, or tubers. Some herbaceous perennials are dormant in winter, while others may remain evergreen in mild climates. The main contrasts are with woody plants, whose stems are lignified and persist above ground for multiple years.

In horticulture, herbaceous plants are cultivated for their flowers, foliage, or seasonal color. They commonly form borders, meadows, or beds that emphasize seasonal change. Examples include daisies (Bellis perennis), cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus), poppies (Papaver spp.), hostas, echinacea, and delphiniums. These plants are valued for rapid growth, ease of propagation, and relatively predictable above-ground growth cycles.

The term herbaceus also appears in botanical Latin to describe habit in species descriptions and taxonomic diagnoses. While English usage favors the spelling herbaceous, herbaceus remains a standard Latin form encountered in scientific nomenclature.