Terms

Below is a reference list of terms and definitions used in Basic Botany

Whole plant: Above Ground

Root: below ground

Rhizomes: roots

Annual: plant with one life cycle

Perennial: plant that has more than one life span

Biannual: plant that flower then seeds and dies

Bulb: storage organ for underground

Deciduous: tree or shrub that loosed leaves annually at the end of season

Dormant: alive but inactive

Evergreen: foliage stays on year round and sheds leaves at intervals thru the year.

Hardy: Tolerant year round climate in your area

Taproot: a thick main root system

Umbel: flat topped or rounded flower cluster from flower central point.

Whorl: three or more leaved flower from stem at the same level

Below is a reference list of terms and definitions used in creating things with Medicinal Herbs.

Base oil: Also called a carrier oil, this is an oil such as olive, grapeseed, almond, apricot or jojoba oil that is used to extract herbs for medicinal purposes.

Compress: Cloth soaked in an herbal preparation and applied topically.

Constituents: A plant chemical, also called a compound, that creates a medicinal effect on the body.

Decoction: tea made by simmering herbs such as roots, barks and nuts in water to extract medicinal properties.

Essential oil: A concentrated distilled oil of aromatic plants made using special equipment and training.

Herbal oil: Also called an infused oil, this is a medicinal oil preparation made by gently heating plants in a base oil.

Infusion: Hot infusion: Herbs such as leaves, flowers and fruit steeped in hot water to extract medicinal properties.

Cold infusion: Herbs steeped in cold water to extract medicinal properties.

Solar infusion: Also called sun tea, this is herbs and water placed in the sun for gentle heat to extract medicinal properties.

Menstruum: Liquid used to extract medicinal properties from plants such as alcohol, glycerine, vinegar or oil.

Poultice: Soothing poultice: Mashed herb applied topically to calm inflamed conditions.

Drawing poultice: Mashed herb applied topically to draw impurities and materials out of the skin.

Heating poultice: Mashed herb applied topically to bring circulation to the surface of the skin or for relaxing muscles.

Salve: A semi-solid herbal preparation of oil and wax to be used topically.

Tincture: Alcohol tincture: Solution made by extracting medicinal properties with alcohol.

Glycerite: Solution made by extracting medicinal properties with glycerine.

Aceta: Solution made by extracting medicinal properties with vinegar.

Wildcraft: Harvest plants from the wild.