herbaceous

views updated May 18 2018

herbaceous Describing a plant that contains little permanent woody tissue. The aerial parts of the plant die back after the growing season. In annuals the whole plant dies; in biennials and herbaceous perennials the plant has organs (e.g. bulbs or corms) that are modified to survive beneath the soil in unfavourable conditions.

herbaceous

views updated May 17 2018

her·ba·ceous / (h)ərˈbāshəs/ • adj. of, denoting, or relating to herbs (in the botanical sense).