Herbaceous plant

A plant with nonwoody above-ground stems that typically die back at the end of the growing season. Herbaceous plants may be annual, biennial, or perennial.

Herbaceous stem: A nonwoody plant stem that remains soft or flexible rather than developing persistent wood. Its nonwoody structure is the defining feature of herbaceous plants.
Woody plant: A plant whose persistent stems contain substantial wood and survive across growing seasons. Woody stems persist, unlike the above-ground stems typical of herbaceous plants.
Herbaceous perennial: A perennial plant whose above-ground stems die back seasonally while underground or basal parts survive. It exemplifies how an herb can persist without maintaining woody shoots.
Herbaceous border: A garden bed planted mainly with herbaceous perennials, often arranged for successive seasonal flowering. It uses seasonal regrowth and flowering to create a changing garden display.
Lignin: A complex polymer in plant cell walls that strengthens and stiffens vascular tissues. Its accumulation helps explain why woody stems persist while herbaceous stems remain nonwoody.
Subshrub: A low-growing perennial plant with woody lower stems and herbaceous or short-lived upper growth. Subshrubs blur the boundary between wholly herbaceous and woody growth.
Dormancy: A temporary state of reduced growth and metabolism that helps an organism endure unfavorable conditions. Seasonal dormancy coordinates survival with the loss of exposed stems.
Herbaceous biomass: The living or harvested mass of nonwoody plant material, including leaves and stems. Its production and decay affect forage, fuel, and nutrient cycling.
Annual plant: A plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to seed production, within one growing season. Some herbaceous plants complete their lives in a single season.
Grass: A flowering plant in the family Poaceae, usually with narrow leaves and jointed stems. Grasses are familiar herbaceous plants with distinctive jointed stems and growth points.

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