A herb (see also pronunciation differences) is a plant grown for culinary, medicinal, or in some cases even spiritual value. The green, leafy part of the plant is typically used. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. A medicinal herb may be a shrub or other woody plant, whereas a culinary herb is a non-woody plant. By contrast, spices are the seeds, berries, bark, root, or other parts of the plant, even leaves in some cases; although any of these, as well as any edible fruits or vegetables, may be considered "herbs" in medicinal or spiritual use. Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that they are used in small amounts and provide flavor (are spices) rather than substance to food.

Botanical definitions

---

In botany, a herb is a plant that does not produce a woody stem, and in temperate climates usually dies, either completely (annual herb) or back to the roots (perennial herb), at the end of the growing season. Examples include bulbs, Peonies, Hosta, grasses and Banana.

The term herbaceous means either having the characteristic of a herb or being leaf-like in color and texture. A related term from American English is forb, which means a non-woody plant that is not a grass and is not grass-like. This means that the term forb excludes sedges (Cyperaceae) and rushes (Juncaceae) along with true grasses (Poaceae). Non-herbaceous plants are woody plants which have stems above ground that remain alive during winter and grow shoots the next year, such as trees, shrubs, and woody vines.

More on [ Herb ]

NYT > Italy

Rare Peek at Riches of Past in Rome
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Rome’s archaeological authority has reallocated money so that it can provide staffs for five monuments in the ancient heart of the city that are usually closed.
Cleveland Museum Returns Works to Italy
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO; COMPILED BY DAVE ITZKOFF Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Fourteen works from the antiquities collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art were officially presented to the Italian public in Rome on Thursday.
Death Toll Rises to 17 in Italy Train Derailment
By RACHEL DONADIO and SOFIA GROOPMAN Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
A freight train carrying liquid gas derailed late Monday on the Tuscan coast, causing an explosion that left 17 dead and more than 34 injured.
In Naples, Ex-Convicts Keep a Close Eye on Tourists
By ELISABETTA PROVOLEDO Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
After less than a month, a project that enlists ex-convicts to escort tourists through Neapolitan streets with seedy reputations has caused considerable problems for its supporters.
Impunity No More
By LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Sometimes the process is painful and sometimes it is controversial, but the International Criminal Court is changing international relations forever.
Freight Train Derailment and Explosion Kill 14 in Italy
By RACHEL DONADIO and SOFIA GROOPMAN Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
A freight train carrying liquid gas derailed late Monday on the Tuscan coast, causing an explosion that left 14 dead and more than 34 injured.

Subscribe to Italy RSS feed