Forb
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A forb or phorb is a herbaceous flowering plant that is not a graminoid (grass, sedge, or rush). The term is used in botany and in vegetation ecology especially in relation to grasslands<ref name="isbn1-60692-024-3">Template:Cite book</ref> and understory.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Typically, these are eudicots without woody stems.
Etymology
The word forb is derived from Greek Template:Transliteration ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) 'pasture; fodder'.<ref name="isbn0-398-06179-3">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="isbn1-84356-026-7">Template:Cite book</ref> The Hellenic spelling phorb is sometimes used. In older usage, this sometimes includes graminids and other plants currently not regarded as forbs.
Guilds
Forbs are members of a guildTemplate:Mdasha group of plant species with broadly similar growth forms.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In certain contexts in ecology, guild membership may often be more important than the taxonomic relationships between organisms.
In informal classification
In addition to its use in ecology, the term "forb" may be used for subdividing popular guides to wildflowers,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> distinguishing them from other categories such as grasses, sedges, shrubs, and trees.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some examples of forbs are clovers, sunflowers, daylilies, and milkweed.
Forb Adaptation Zones: Kale and turnip are examples of forb adaptations distributed over much of Europe, southern Oceania, northern Asia, and northern North America. In cooler climates, these crops are grown year-round, while in warmer climates, they are used as winter forage.
Examples
- Helianthus annuus (sunflower)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Raphanus sativus (radish)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Valeriana officinalis (valerian)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
See also
References
External links
- United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service link to Growth habits Codes and Definitions.