Forb

Etymology

The word forb is derived from Greek grc (φορβή) 'pasture; fodder'. 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 guilda group of plant species with broadly similar growth forms. 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, distinguishing them from other categories such as grasses, sedges, shrubs, and trees. 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)
• Raphanus sativus (radish)
• Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)
• Valeriana officinalis (valerian)

References

References

1. Schröder, Hans. (2009). "Grasslands: Ecology, Management and Restoration". Nova Science Publishers.
2. "Native Understory Forbs and Grasses".
3. Jaeger, Edmund C.. (1959). "A source-book of biological names and terms". Thomas.
4. (2007). "Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon, Abridged: Original Edition, republished in larger and clearer typeface". Simon Wallenburg Press.
5. Roxburgh, Stephen. (1994). "A Demonstration of Guild Based Assembly Rules for a Plant Community and Determination of Intrinsic Guilds". Oikos.
6. "Wildflower seeds and forbs".
7. (2009-05-28). "Describe the major differences between the plant families used as forages.".
8. "USDA Plants Database".
9. (2008). "At what spatial scale do high-quality habitats enhance the diversity of forbs and pollinators in intensively farmed landscapes?". Journal of Applied Ecology.
10. "Taraxacum officinale".
11. (2011). "Invasive forbs differ functionally from native graminoids, but are similar to native forbs". New Phytologist.