phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody stems
and doesn't die down seasonally, it's a herb in the cullinary/medicinal
sense.


Both pronunciations are correct.

There is no definitive answer to this one in an international forum. With
the "h" sounded is more common where I am, with it silent is likely to be
usage from a French language or dialectic background but that doesn't mean
it's wrong. In other places the silent form could be more common.

David

In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody stems
and doesn't die down seasonally, it's a herb in the cullinary/medicinal
sense.


Both pronunciations are correct.

There is no definitive answer to this one in an international forum. With
the "h" sounded is more common where I am, with it silent is likely to be
usage from a French language or dialectic background but that doesn't mean
it's wrong. In other places the silent form could be more common.

David

http://topazs_herbgarden.tripod.com/def_herb.htm

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

In article , says...
phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody stems
and doesn't die down seasonally, it's a herb in the cullinary/medicinal
sense.

A fair point. OED lists the culinary/medicinal first and botanical
second.


Both pronunciations are correct.

There is no definitive answer to this one in an international forum. With
the "h" sounded is more common where I am, with it silent is likely to be
usage from a French language or dialectic background but that doesn't mean
it's wrong. In other places the silent form could be more common.

Around here, most of the people I know pronounce it erb. I was taught to
"put 'an' before herb because the h is silent."

David Hare-Scott wrote:

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody stems
and doesn't die down seasonally, it's a herb in the cullinary/medicinal
sense.

Indeed, this distinction was part of the reason for me asking.

--
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by
this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
Jonathan Swift: Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting

On 05/02/09 23:23, David Hare-Scott wrote:
phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody
stems and doesn't die down seasonally.

David

The Rosemary bush in my garden has woody stems and does not die down
seasonally. And yet, Rosemary is a herb!

Ed

Ed wrote:
On 05/02/09 23:23, David Hare-Scott wrote:
phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody
stems and doesn't die down seasonally.

David

The Rosemary bush in my garden has woody stems and does not die down
seasonally. And yet, Rosemary is a herb!

Ed

Sure it is a medicinal/culinary herb. From Wikipedia:

"In botanical usage a herb or herbaceous plant is any non-woody plant,
regardless of its flavor, scent or other properties. A botanical herb cannot
therefore be a woody plant such as a tree or shrub."

David

In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

Ed wrote:
On 05/02/09 23:23, David Hare-Scott wrote:
phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody
stems and doesn't die down seasonally.

David

The Rosemary bush in my garden has woody stems and does not die down
seasonally. And yet, Rosemary is a herb!

Ed

Sure it is a medicinal/culinary herb. From Wikipedia:

"In botanical usage a herb or herbaceous plant is any non-woody plant,
regardless of its flavor, scent or other properties. A botanical herb cannot
therefore be a woody plant such as a tree or shrub."

David

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.
--

Billy
Republican and Democratic "Leadership" Behind Bars
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7843430.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net

In article
,
Billy wrote:

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.

What is buck eye good for? Last I read, they were toxic.
--
Peace! Om

"Criminals thrive on the indulgence of societies understanding."

-- From "Batman Begins"

In article ,
says...
In article
,
Billy wrote:

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.

What is buck eye good for? Last I read, they were toxic.


Untreated, yes.

Supposedly the saponins can be leeched out and they can be used for food
or coffee substitute.

In article ,
phorbin wrote:

In article ,
says...
In article
,
Billy wrote:

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.

What is buck eye good for? Last I read, they were toxic.


Untreated, yes.

Supposedly the saponins can be leeched out and they can be used for food
or coffee substitute.

Ok, that;s interesting, thanks!
--
Peace! Om

"Criminals thrive on the indulgence of societies understanding."

-- From "Batman Begins"

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.

What is buck eye good for? Last I read, they were toxic.

http://www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/_Herbs/h68.htm
Chronic venous insufficiency
Edema
Hemorrhoids
Sprains and other injuries
Varicose veins

and

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....+hippocastanum
Alterative; Analgesic; Antiinflammatory; Astringent; Bach; Diuretic;
Expectorant; Febrifuge; Haemostatic; Narcotic; Tonic; Vasoconstrictor;
Vulnerary.

The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute
--

Billy
Republican and Democratic "Leadership" Behind Bars
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7843430.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net

In article ,
Henriette Kress wrote:

Omelet wrote:
Billy wrote:

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.

What is buck eye good for? Last I read, they were toxic.

Nice as a low-dose tincture for vein problems like hemorrhoids and
varicosities;
very nice as a salve for the same.

Although I prefer Aesculus leaves (not fruit) for the salve.

Henriette

Fascinating... Thanks!
--
Peace! Om

I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. -- Dalai Lama