What makes herbs herbs

[Suetheramble]

Chatting with children today they said garlic was a herb. It then came up what makes a herb a herb by name?

[Mr Veritas]

Garlic is NOT a herb,it is a member of the Onion family.
For what is a herb,and what a herb is,see here:~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb

[Suetheramble]

Dont want to be contrary but the onion theory was my trail of thought but just looked it up on the site you mention and they list it as a herb.

[Mr Veritas]

Well, I suppose you could call Garlic a herb as it's useful,but it is actually a member of the herb family,so I suppose it's both! LOL
BRW the biggest member (scientifically speaking) of the herb family is the Banana!
The difficulty is,there are plants known as herbs,and then there are plants that are ONLY of the herb family.
The plants that are really herbs have had added to them allied plants that are regarded as herbs.
Now you are really confused? LOL

[Mr Veritas]

Sorry that should read:~
Well, I suppose you could call Garlic a herb as it's useful,but it is actually a member of the onion family,so I suppose it's both! LOL

[xstitcher]

I enjoyed this thread until we came to the banana bit. Wikipedia didn't mention them. How do they fit into the herb family pray tell?

[spudqueen]

xstitcher see here http://www.askoxford....faq/aboutother/banana

[Mr Veritas]

Thanks spudqueen,
I was dreading having to try and find that! LOL

[redman41]

http://herbgardeningpro.org/list/

[xstitcher]

Thanks spudqueen.......amazing what you can learn on a rainy Sat. afternoon isn't it.