Herbaceus
/her-BAY-see-us/🏷️ Taxonomy● Basic
Also known as: herbacea, herbaceum
A growth habit epithet indicating the plant lacks persistent woody tissue, with all above-ground growth dying back annually. Appears as herbaceus (masculine), herbacea (feminine), or herbaceum (neuter).
Etymology
From Latin herbaceus, meaning "of the nature of herbs," from herba (herb, plant).
Example
“Clematis herbacea and herbaceous peonies both illustrate the completely non-woody growth cycle this epithet records — dying to the ground each winter and regenerating from the root.”