Plural of 'forb,' referring to herbaceous flowering plants that are not grasses or sedges, commonly found in meadows and grasslands.
From Greek 'phorbe' (pasture/fodder) via Latin, entering English in the 1800s as ecological terminology. A 'forb' is a technical botanical term for any broad-leaved herb that herbivores eat in addition to grass.
Ecologists and ranchers use 'forbs' constantly, but the word is almost invisible to non-specialists—yet your favorite wildflowers are forbs! It's a perfect example of how specialized vocabulary stays hidden even in familiar plants.
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