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Medicinal Herbs
The term herb means (in Pharmacognosy) a drug composed of the tender parts of the plant axis
(stem) together with leaves, flowers, and fruits; or (in Botany) a plant with non-woody stem
which dies, at least down to the ground, after fruiting. This term also includes lower plants ( Algae,
Fungi, Lichens, etc…. ). Here, we should establish the morphological and histological
characteristics of the stem.
The Stem
The stem is that part of the plant axis which bears leaves at joints called nodes, these nodes a re
connected by short or long segments called internodes.
Classification of the Plant kingdom
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