Structure of herbs
Herbs from the point of view of botany are annual or perennial, non-woody species of crops. When describing medicinal spicy aromatic and green plants, the general term "herbs" is used. Dried and processed medicinal plants are used for medicinal purposes, they produce phytopreparations from them, and spicy herbs are processed into herbs of vegetable origin, called spices and used in cooking. Depending on the duration of the life cycle, the grasses are divided into one-, two- and perennial plants.
Annuals pass through the entire development cycle in 1 year, biennial plants require 2 growing seasons.
Perennials, as their name implies, have an extended life cycle. The active substances contained in the plants are distributed unevenly across their different parts and organs.
The leaves of plants are most often used as medicinal raw materials and spices. This is due to the fact that in them the concentration of active substances, essential oils, mineral elements is the highest, which is largely due to the presence of a large amount of green pigment of chlorophyll in the leaf tissues. With its help, the plant catches the energy of sunlight and realizes the process of photosynthesis. Therefore, the metabolism in the leaves proceeds with the greatest activity, which determines their value.
The stalk provides delivery of water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves, flowers and fruits of the plant. In its tissues contains a limited number of nutrients and active substances, but more than in other parts of the plant, accumulates nitrates.
The bark, by its designation, is the site of the deposition of some specific products of plant metabolism, for example astringents and tannins, which makes the bark a valuable medicinal raw material( bark of oak, buckthorn).
Plant roots are absorbing and accumulating organs, especially tuberous roots and rhizomes. They accumulate active substances, which give the plants healing properties, sugary substances.
Flowers contain, in addition to nutrients, also active substances used in medicine.
Latin designation / Part of plant / shortening
Plant to root Herba / Herb.
Leaf, leaves Folium, Folia / Fol.
Flower, flowers Flos, Flores / Flor.
Seeds Semen / Sem.
Fruit, fruits Fmetus / Fmct.
Root Radix / Rad.
rhizome Rhizpma / Rhiz.
Bulb Bulbus / Bulb.
Bark Cortex / Cort.
Examples: Basilici herba - plant( grass) of basil, Sam-buci flos - flower of elderberry, Quercus cortex - bark of oak
Fleshy fruits are rich in minerals and vitamins. In the seeds, all vital nutrients and active substances in a particular biological form are vital to the future plant. Seeds can have healing properties that are not inherent in any part of the plant. In addition, they are rich in essential oils.