The meaning of herbaceous plants. Herbaceous plants: description, diversity and types. What types of plants are there?

Herbaceous plants are found in every natural zone and on every continent. They are extremely common and familiar to almost everyone. What types of them are most famous and what are the features of such representatives of the flora?

Common oxalis

This is a perennial whose height does not exceed ten centimeters. Like other plants, sorrel is distinguished by a creeping rhizome. The leaves have long petioles and heart-shaped leaves that fold lengthwise. The flowers are solitary, with a white corolla, occasionally purple or lilac. The fruits look like light brown boxes. Oxalis blooms in May or June. The fruits ripen by August. Oxalis is distinguished by the growth of the rhizome, and the spread of seeds from the capsules. Many other herbaceous plants, examples of which will be given below, also use these methods. Oxalis is found in damp coniferous forests; its thickets tend to form a continuous cover. It can be eaten: the leaves are rich in vitamin C and are suitable for making soup, seasonings, salad, and tea.

Stinging nettle

When compiling a list that includes perennial herbaceous plants (examples of which are known to everyone), it is definitely worth mentioning this. Nettle is a perennial that reaches a height of one and a half meters. The plant has a long horizontal rhizome. The flowering and fruiting period continues throughout the summer. Seeds are used for propagation: one plant can produce up to twenty-two thousand of them. Nettle can often be seen near roads and fences, in vacant lots, most often it creates dense thickets. The plant can be used for food and medicinal purposes. You can cook green cabbage soup from young shoots, and nettle is used as a prophylactic when there is a lack of vitamins in the body. In addition, drugs based on it are used to stop bleeding and stimulate the functioning of the gallbladder. Folk recipes Nettle is used for hair care. The plant is suitable for feeding pigs, birds, and cows. The stems can be used to make fiber, which is suitable for making fabric or rope, and the leaves and rhizomes were previously used as a natural dye.

Great celandine

The perennial plant reaches a height of almost a meter. Celandine has straight and branched stems with leaves, the upper side of which is green and the lower side is bluish. Herbaceous plants, examples of which were given above, bloom quite inconspicuously. Celandine is a completely different matter. He appears bright yellow flowers, located with umbrellas. The fruits are pod-shaped capsules with many seeds. Any part of the plant contains orange juice. Celandine blooms from May to August, and fruits appear in July. You can find the plant near roads and homes, in ditches, abandoned parks and gardens. It is used in veterinary medicine and medicine, and also as an insecticide: celandine powder can be used to protect crops from garden beetles. The juice is used to remove skin growths, and the herb is used to color the coat in yellow and red tones. If all herbaceous plants, examples of which were given above, can be eaten, then celandine is poisonous. It is not suitable for feed purposes either.

River gravity

Photos and names of which are not so well known are also worthy of mention. For example, river gravel, reaching seventy centimeters in height and characterized by strong roots and a thick dark red stem. The plant has several bell-shaped flowers, with pinkish petals covered with brown veins. The fruits are distributed by people and animals; they have special trailers. Gravilat blooms in June. The fruits ripen in July. You can see gravilate along the edges of swamps or ponds, as well as in meadows and bushes. Its roots are used in folk medicine and for making paint. This genus of herbaceous plants is harmless and suitable for cooking. fresh salad or seasonal green soup.

Swamp sow thistle

When listing herbaceous plants, photos of which everyone can easily recognize, it is worth naming this species. Thistle is a perennial that can grow up to two and a half meters in height. The plant contains milky sap. Thistle is distinguished by a small powerful rhizome and arrow-shaped leaves. Its inflorescences resemble baskets located at the very top of the stem. They are distinguished by their yellow color. The fruits, which ripen by August, look like tetrahedral achenes. You can meet swamp sow thistle on the shore of a reservoir, quite according to the name - near a swamp, in thickets of bushes on wet soil, as well as in floodplains of rivers: in such areas, plants can be seen in the grass, near the road or in a ditch.

Dacha owners and personal plots use their possessions differently. Some cultivate a vegetable garden and reap rich harvests, others prefer a lawn instead of beds. But it is rare to find a garden plot without a flower bed or flower bed. The word “flower garden” seems to speak for itself and implies a place where flowers grow and smell fragrant.

Main characteristics

IN landscape design There is a special class of herbs that either do not bloom at all or bloom imperceptibly. These are ornamental herbaceous plants. Some look so impressive that it is no longer possible to imagine a modern flowerbed or front garden without them. There are a great many herbaceous plants in nature. There are about 18,000 of them in Russia alone. But of course, not all herbs can be classified as ornamental.

Herbaceous plants are plants that do not have perennial above-ground characteristics, they do not have woodiness of the stem, and at the end of the growing season they die off. Herbs form a root system and shoots: leaves, stem and flower part, if any.

Classification of herbaceous plants

Herbaceous plants are classified according to various criteria. But grouping plants by lifespan is considered the most convenient. Their examples:

Decoration of the world

Decorative plantings are widely used to improve the landscape: near houses, grasses are displayed in flower beds and front gardens; they decorate squares and park areas in cities. Thematic compositions and modular flower beds, porters and borders are created from annuals, biennials and perennials.

Conditionally ornamental plants divided into deciduous and flowering:

decorative deciduous - mosses, cereals and ferns;
beautifully flowering - flowering plants and meadow grasses.

Today, the range of herbs is diverse, which makes the choice much more difficult. But the decision should be made based not only on appearance. It is important to know the growing conditions and other characteristics, which may differ significantly depending on the type of plant.

Decorative deciduous grasses

Plants with decorative foliage delight the eye with splendor and variety from spring until the first frost.

Sagebrush- biennial or perennial herbaceous plant. There are many types of wormwood, and some are even listed in the Red Book of Russia.

Most types of wormwood grow up to 60-70 cm in height, but there are also those whose growth can exceed 1.5 m. The stems of the plant are straight and branched, pubescent. The leaves are elongated and pointed, silver in color. The flowers are small, collected in inflorescences, usually white or yellow color. Wormwood has a pleasant aroma with a slight bitterness.

To grow decorative wormwood, you need well-drained soil and a site located on the sunny side.

Mint- not only a useful and fragrant herb, it also has decorative properties. Mint is a perennial plant with many species, but the most common are fragrant and peppermint.

The stems of fragrant mint reach a height of up to 40 cm, they are straight and stable. The leaves are green with a light edge, wrinkled, and exude a pleasant aroma.

Peppermint can reach a height of 120 cm. Its stems are straight, tetrahedral, branched, and well-leafed. The leaves are green with a purple edge, elongated-ovate, pointed and jagged.

Mint unpretentious plant, but grows and reproduces better on fertile and well-moistened soil. More illuminated areas are optimal for growing.

Sheep fescue- decorative grass. The plant does not form a rhizome and differs from other fescue trees in its softer foliage.

Sheep fescue grows in a dense bush, growing from 20 to 140 cm in height. The leaves are bristly and can be different in shape: from wide to especially narrow. Fescue blooms with oblong panicles of light green spikelets.

Beautiful flowering plants

Beautifully flowering herbs will enliven and decorate any corner of the garden, and the name itself already speaks for itself.

Adonis- a flowering herbaceous plant, in summer this beautiful flower can be found in the European part of Russia and in Western Siberia. There are two types of Adonis: spring and summer.

A plant often has more than one stem; they can be simple or weakly branched, erect or deflected. They grow up to 40-50 cm in height. The leaves are very thin and stick out in different directions, because of this it seems that the stem of the flower is shaggy. Sunny places are preferred for growing.

Spring adonis is a perennial and therefore more popular than summer adonis. The flowers are solitary, bright yellow, quite large - up to 8 cm in diameter. Thanks to its early flowering, it looks very impressive against the background of coniferous plants.

Summer adonis is an annual that blooms all summer until September. It differs from its counterpart not only in the flowering period, but also in color. The flowers of summer adonis are fiery red with black spots. Externally it resembles a poppy.

Delphinium- a fast-growing and unpretentious herbaceous plant. But despite their exquisite appearance and stunning beauty, even wild species take root well in gardens and do not require special care.

There are many types of delphinium. From dwarfs, whose height does not exceed 20-30 cm, to giants, capable of growing up to 3-4 meters. The leaves are separate, dissected, slightly hairy. Inflorescences are in the form of panicles or racemes; only some species form single flowers. The color of delphiniums is often blue or purple, but the most popular flowers are red and yellow.

Delphiniums should be grown in shaded and windless areas with moderately moist soil. They respond well to organic fertilizers. Delphinium is drought resistant and low temperatures, there is no need to cover them for the winter. Upon completion of flowering, it quickly loses its attractive appearance, so gardeners advise choosing neighbors with a long flowering period.

Iris- perennial with large beautiful flowers various colors and shades. Irises are a real decoration for any flower bed or alpine slide, they get along well and combine effectively with many other plants.

The growth of irises is from 40 to 60 cm. The leaves are flat, thin, sword-shaped. Single flowers, unusual shape. They usually bloom from May to July.

To date, 280 species of irises are known. Most of them are unpretentious and grow equally well in both shade and sunny areas. Irises do not tolerate excess moisture, so they should be watered sparingly. But they do not need frequent replanting and can grow in one place for more than five years.

Evergreen herbaceous

Evergreen herbs will become the main decoration of the garden late autumn, and in the spring they will be warmly greeted with living green foliage.

Heuchera- ground cover perennial herbaceous plant. Through the efforts of breeders, many varieties have already been developed that differ in the shape and color of the leaves. For example, purple heuchera has bright and rich purple leaves, while green heuchera has variegated leaves with light green veins.

It reaches a height of 40-60 cm. The leaves are medium-sized, lobed, rounded-heart-shaped. During the flowering period, the plant is covered with small inflorescences of red, white and pink shades, but is valued precisely for the beauty of the leaves.

Heucheras prefer more shady places and do not require special care. When growing, excess is undesirable. organic fertilizers and abundant watering.

Aubrieta- the ground cover is beautiful flowering plant. Superficial root system making it ideal and indispensable for creating a fluffy green carpet.

The plant is rather short-growing, on average, the height does not exceed 12-16 cm. The leaves are small, with dense pubescence of a gray-green color. At the end of May, the flowering period of aubrieta begins, and by the beginning of June, all the foliage becomes hidden under a bright blanket of small flowers.

Aubrieta is undemanding about its habitat, but it takes root better in well-drained areas and loves the sun.

Badan- a unique perennial from the Saxifraga family, which can be found in almost every garden. To date, many have been released hybrid varieties bergenia, they are distinguished by their splendor and exotic look. This unassuming plant looks great in shady gardens and on the banks of reservoirs.

A low plant grows from 20 to 50 cm in height. Bergenia has large, dark green, shiny leaves in basal rosettes. Small flowers with a bell-shaped corolla are collected in inflorescences and have a variety of colors - from white and soft pink to bright red, purple and dark lilac.

Bergenia does not require a lot of light; it grows and develops well in shaded areas. In this case, it is necessary to monitor soil moisture, since this herbaceous plant does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of water. But bergenia can grow without replanting for ten years.

By skillfully selecting decorative plantings, even an inexperienced gardener will be able to add zest to his garden and make it unique.

Herbaceous plants are the most common, as they are found in all natural areas, anywhere in the world. There are many more of them than trees and shrubs combined. Herbaceous plants can differ greatly from each other in external characteristics, but they all have the same structure.

Characteristics of herbaceous plants

Herbaceous plants are a life form higher plants, main feature which is a soft aboveground stem. That is, if a plant does not have a strong woody stem, it can safely be classified as a herb.

Herbaceous plant forms consist of the following parts:

Root system most often consists of a large number of small, thin roots, among which there is no large, main root. This type is called a fibrous root system. Roots absorb moisture from the ground and accumulate active substances.
Stem soft, meaty, juicy. With its help, water is delivered and nutrients from roots to leaves, flowers, fruits.
Leaves . The sizes, colors and shapes of leaves can be very diverse. It is in them that the most active substances, minerals, essential oils

, which determine their medicinal properties.

Rice. 1. Leaves of herbaceous plants. Flowers
. An important component of plants from which the fruit is formed. Fruit

herbaceous plants are a real storehouse of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. They contain seeds, thanks to which further plant reproduction occurs. In nature, in addition to soft species

Classification of herbaceous plants

stems, there are also various lignified forms. Examples of herbaceous shrub plants are garden peonies, pinnate carnation, and wild rosemary. Depending on life expectancy and all herbaceous plants

divided into 3 main groups: Annuals
. The above-ground part of the plant dies off completely with the onset of cold weather. At the same time, annual grasses have time to fully go through all stages of development. Biennials . Full life cycle of such plants is from 12 to 24 months. In the first year of life, they develop roots, stems and leaves, after which winter time
they fall into a state of rest. In spring, the plants “come to life” again to bloom and bear fruit. Perennial

. The peculiarity of these plants is that with the arrival of winter they shed their leaves, leaving only the underground organs viable: bulbs, rhizomes, tubers. These organs have so-called renewal buds - spare buds, from which a new full-fledged plant is formed in the spring.

Rice. 2. Asters and chrysanthemums are autumn herbaceous plants. Also, all herbaceous plants are divided into wild (living in forests, meadows, fields) and cultivated (grows by people on garden plots

, agricultural fields).TOP 4 articles

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Among the grasses there are real giants. Thus, in the southern part of Siberia, Delphinium or Larkspur grows - a perennial poisonous herbaceous plant that can grow up to 4 meters.

Meaning and use of herbs

Man has long used herbs to his advantage:
Herbaceous plants are cultivated all over the world for food purposes and also as food for domestic animals.
Herbs have been actively used for medicinal purposes for many years. Plants such as chamomile, celandine, calendula, oak bark, sage and many others are widely used in folk medicine. Of particular value are spices

, which are used in cooking as a seasoning. These are cumin, parsley, dill, basil, garlic.

What have we learned?

When studying the topic “Herbaceous Plants” in the environment program for 1st grade, we learned what the main difference between herbaceous plants is. We found out by what criteria they are classified and what their application is.

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This is the name given to the life form of higher plants. Among them there are poisonous varieties and those that can be eaten. Tea is brewed from individual herbs and infusions are made for internal and external use. IN different types contains various beneficial substances (in the root or in the shoots), extracts of which are also used in perfumery, the production of cosmetics, household chemicals, alcoholic and without alcoholic drinks.

Avran

(lat. Gratiola officinalis) is a poisonous herbaceous plant common in Central and Eastern Europe. There are many common names for avran: God's grace, grace, fever grass, horse tinder, moknets, deer grass, draciolia, bloodworm. The Russian-language name is of Turkic origin and translated means “to be sick.”

Aloe

To get the maximum benefit from aloe, you need to know some tricks for biostimulating the leaves of the plant. But if you manage to carry out the preparatory procedures correctly, aloe will clearly demonstrate its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, bactericidal and other therapeutic properties.

Althea

Marshmallow (or rather, the root of the plant, which is often used in medicine) in some cases can easily replace drugs for treating the digestive and respiratory organs, serve as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent, and become the basis for medicinal cosmetics. But for this you need to know and follow several simple rules procurement and processing of raw materials.

Pansies

Eastern guest - tricolor violet - also known in our country as “pansy” in flora“specializes” in the treatment of cardiovascular, skin and gynecological diseases. In addition, pansies can help with problems with the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system. But there are also quite serious restrictions on the use of pansies in therapy.

Aster

Flowers, roots, stems, and leaves of the plant are used in medicine.

Astragalus wooliflorum

Astragalus wooliflora attracts the attention of those who think about eternal (or at least very long) life. Legends claim that the ruling elite regularly turned to Astragalus wooliflora in search of a way to prolong life. The plant can truly solve a number of health problems if you know how to use it and are careful.

Ledum

For respiratory diseases, use wild rosemary herb in the form of infusions; it is also a diuretic, disinfectant and antiseptic.

Oil from the wild rosemary plant is an ideal remedy for a runny nose.

Periwinkle

There are many things about periwinkle beautiful legends, emphasizing the significance of this plant in folk culture and medicine. And modern research only confirms the powerful healing potential of periwinkle, which can manifest itself as a vasodilator, soothing nervous system

, which lowers blood pressure and relieves a number of other health problems.

Valerian

Valerian in herbal preparations is usually responsible for the calming effect, diuretic function and restoration of the gastrointestinal tract.

However, its capabilities are much wider. In both scientific and folk medicine, valerian is successfully used in the complex treatment of thyroid diseases, asthma, epilepsy and some other serious diseases. cornflower Decoctions and infusions of cornflower are used for: inflammatory and chronic kidney diseases, inflammation of the urinary tract, edema,

urolithiasis

, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, urethritis, cystitis, pyelitis, nephrosis, decreased vision, liver and biliary tract diseases. Helps resolve problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Elecampane

Elecampane preparations improve expectoration of sputum, reduce intestinal secretory activity, normalize metabolism, stimulate bile formation, increase diuresis, and have antimicrobial and anthelmintic properties. Elecampane preparations are used internally for chronic and acute bronchitis, enterocolitis, functional diarrhea, colitis, chronic and acute pharyngitis, gingivitis, tracheitis, difficult-to-heal wounds, and periodontal disease. St. John's wort. But with a reasonable approach to therapy, St. John's wort can improve the condition of cholecystitis, hepatitis, gastritis, correct bile duct dysfunction and many other, even quite rare, pathologies.

Blooming Sally

In Ivan tea medicinal properties possess both leaves, shoots, and roots. In folk medicine, it is used to treat ulcers, colitis, prostatitis, insomnia, and headaches. To this list, when using a medicinal plant externally, conjunctivitis, bedsores, and psoriasis are added. The success of fireweed in the treatment of these and other diseases has given rise to scientists to more seriously engage in scientific study of the healing potential of this herb.

Calendula

Tinctures, decoctions and teas that produce a therapeutic effect are prepared from the inflorescences, petals and leafy tops of calendula.

In folk medicine they are used for inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, hypertension, angina pectoris, atherosclerosis, neuroses and a number of other diseases. But medicines are also made from calendula, which are prescribed for anemia, stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, and tumors.

However, caution is needed when using medicinal calendula. Clover There are hundreds of types of clover, and most of them are used in medicine due to the formation of vitamins E and C in the leaves, the “antimicrobial” trifolirizin in the roots of the plant and a whole “bouquet” of useful substances in the inflorescences of clover. Overdose and ill-conceived combination of clover with medicines may cause a negative reaction, but if

rational approach

clover can significantly facilitate the treatment process and make it more effective.

Hemp

It grows in Western Siberia, the Volga region, and Altai in the European part of Russia. Nowadays, this plant is cultivated in almost all countries.

Officially, the plant is allowed to be grown and consumed only in Colombia. In other states, cultivation, consumption, distribution or possession is criminally punishable.

Not everyone in our area has heard of Rhodiola (red brush) - the plant thrives in cold climates and/or mountainous areas.

However, it is not without reason that it is called “Siberian ginseng”. Scientific medicine experimentally proves the ability of Rhodiola to prevent the oxidation of red blood cells, suppress lymphosarcoma metastases, have a neuroprotective effect, normalize metabolic processes and more. In folk medicine, the healing potential of this herb is used even more widely.

Burnet

There are about 27 types of burnet, but not all are the most famous and useful. Burnet preparations help with various types of bleeding, such as uterine bleeding, hemoptysis, gastric, heavy menstruation, hemorrhoids, etc. Burnet is used externally as a means to promote the healing of wounds, abrasions and cuts.

Lavender Lavender is a subshrub, up to 60 cm high. It is widespread in India, Arabia, southern Europe, northern and eastern Africa, and even the Canary Islands. There are about 30 varieties of this shrub. Lavender is widely used in cooking, household chemicals, production of soft and alcoholic drinks,

toilet soap

, deodorants, air fresheners, perfumes and cosmetics.

Burdock

A beekeeper will say about burdock that it is an excellent honey plant. Culinary - that burdock can be added to salads, broths and made into drinks. But the most “useful” list of possible uses of burdock will be from a representative of traditional medicine. It will contain dozens of diseases in which burdock improves the condition of patients. And recently, scientists have also become interested in the therapeutic potential of burdock. Poppy

The harvesting of poppies for medicine today is carried out on an industrial scale. Scientists are working to identify the characteristics of the therapeutic effect

various types

Melissa

Not every medicinal plant You can grow it at home on a windowsill or balcony, but you can grow lemon balm. However, is this herb worth such work? If we consider that it can only be taken as a mild sedative, then probably not. But in folk medicine, lemon balm is also effectively used as a laxative, antispasmodic, antiemetic, stimulator of biliary tract motility and gastric secretory function, a cure for hypertension, atherosclerosis, toxicosis and many other diseases.

Mint

Mint is grown in industrial scale, which is not surprising, given the rich historical experience of its use, the number of diseases for which it helps and the number of useful substances in the composition. Moreover, new and unexpected possibilities for using mint in medicine, dietetics and cosmetology are only now being discovered by scientists in the course of scientific research.

Tansy

The name itself comes from the Czech or Polish word “pizmo”, which means “musk”, that is, the smell is of organic origin. In fact, all plants of this species have a very strong, rich aroma, and the smell is emitted by every cell of this plant.

Plantain

For many children, it is with plantain that their acquaintance with herbal medicine begins. A plantain leaf applied to the wound stopped bleeding, relieved inflammation and relieved pain. Unfortunately, knowledge about plantain is often limited to this “childhood” experience.