Herb

Any of a large group of annual and perennial plants whose leaves, stems, or flowers are used as a flavoring for cooking. Herbs are used primarily for seasoning but can also be used as a garnish. Among the most common are chervil, thyme, rosemary, dill, tarragon, chives, and parsley. The classification technically includes all edible plants that grow above ground, while those that grow below ground are called roots. Herbs differ from spices in that herbs are the edible foliage (leaves) of plants, while spices are substances derived from other parts of the plant, such as the roots, seeds, berries, buds, and bark. See entries for specific herbs and spices.