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[1] and understory.[2] Typically, these are eudicots without woody stems.
Etymology
[edit]The word forb is derived from Greek phorbḗ (φορβή) 'pasture; fodder'.[3][4] The Hellenic spelling phorb is sometimes used. In older usage, this sometimes includes graminids and other plants currently not regarded as forbs.
Guilds
[edit]Forbs are members of a guild—a group of plant species with broadly similar growth forms.[5] In certain contexts in ecology, guild membership may often be more important than the taxonomic relationships between organisms.
In informal classification
[edit]In addition to its use in ecology, the term "forb" may be used for subdividing popular guides to wildflowers,[6] distinguishing them from other categories such as grasses, sedges, shrubs, and trees.[7] 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
[edit]- Helianthus annuus (sunflower)[8]
- Raphanus sativus (radish)[9]
- Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)[10]
- Valeriana officinalis (valerian)[11]
See also
[edit]- Dicotyledon – Historical grouping of flowering plants
- Herbaceous plant – Plant that has no persistent woody stem above ground
- Overgrazing – When plants are grazed for extended periods without sufficient recovery time
- Tapestry lawn
References
[edit]- ^ Schröder, Hans (2009). Grasslands: Ecology, Management and Restoration. Commack, N.Y: Nova Science Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60692-024-4.
- ^ "Native Understory Forbs and Grasses". www.nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
- ^ Jaeger, Edmund C. (1959). A source-book of biological names and terms. Springfield, Ill: Thomas. ISBN 0-398-06179-3.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ Scott, Robert Pickett; Henry, George (2007). Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon, Abridged: Original Edition, republished in larger and clearer typeface. Simon Wallenburg Press. ISBN 978-1-84356-026-5.
- ^ Roxburgh, Stephen (1994). "A Demonstration of Guild Based Assembly Rules for a Plant Community and Determination of Intrinsic Guilds". Oikos. 69 (2): 267–276. Bibcode:1994Oikos..69..267W. doi:10.2307/3546147. JSTOR 3546147.
- ^ "Wildflower seeds and forbs". graniteseed.com. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
- ^ "Describe the major differences between the plant families used as forages". Forage Information System. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
- ^ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
- ^ Kohler, Florian; Verhulst, Jort; Van Klink, Roel; Kleijn, David (2008). "At what spatial scale do high-quality habitats enhance the diversity of forbs and pollinators in intensively farmed landscapes?". Journal of Applied Ecology. 45 (3): 753–762. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01394.x. ISSN 1365-2664.
- ^ "Taraxacum officinale". www.fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
- ^ Scharfy, Deborah; Funk, Andrea; Olde Venterink, Harry; Güsewell, Sabine (2011). "Invasive forbs differ functionally from native graminoids, but are similar to native forbs". New Phytologist. 189 (3): 818–828. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03531.x. ISSN 1469-8137.
External links
[edit]- United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service link to Growth habits Codes and Definitions.