The word "forb" is derived from Greekphorbḗ (φορβή), meaning "pasture" or "fodder".[3][4] The Hellenic spelling "phorb" is sometimes used, and in older usage this sometimes includes graminids and other plants currently not regarded as forbs.
Forbs are members of a guild—a group of plant species with broadly similar growth form.[5] In certain contexts in ecology, guild membership may often be more important than the taxonomic relationships between organisms.
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.
^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. ISBN978-1-84356-026-5.
^Roxburgh, Stephen. A Demonstration of Guild Based Assembly Rules for a Plant Community and Determination of Intrinsic Guilds.
