I also think it's possible that there are a few trees. Some look like they might be (a very small proportion, but still a few).
Many "herbals" included a few trees, usually nut trees (especially hazelnut, walnut, chestnut, and almond), sometimes acacia, cedar, juniper, beech, sumac, and larch, sometimes lemon, cherry, pear, medlar, quince, and apple. Sometimes cinnamon, a few north African trees, bdellum, jujube, and a couple with names I have trouble remembering. Just off the top of my head, those are the ones I see most often.
There were imports even in the early days, such as sugar cane (which is easier to transport than plants that spoil). Sugar-cane plants had been imported and grown by Roman times. But even though many "herbals" include plants like sugar cane and cinnamon, I still think the great majority of the VMS plants are temperate-zone plants.
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Edit [addition]: I forgot one (a common one)! gall oak. Often included... for obvious reasons.
Oh bummer, once my mind goes into "seek" mode (rumbling around in my brain for certain kinds of information), it won't stop. Agnus-Castus is commonly included. Also pistacio, arbutus, styrax, ricinus, camphor, olive, laurel, myrtle, mulberry, acer, pine, bombax, tree spurge (many herbals include this one).
I'll stop now even though my mind will keep distracting me by dredging these up for the next 20 minutes. Suffice it to say, trees are quite common to herbals, but each tradition has its own favorites and they are usually the minority portion.
Many "herbals" included a few trees, usually nut trees (especially hazelnut, walnut, chestnut, and almond), sometimes acacia, cedar, juniper, beech, sumac, and larch, sometimes lemon, cherry, pear, medlar, quince, and apple. Sometimes cinnamon, a few north African trees, bdellum, jujube, and a couple with names I have trouble remembering. Just off the top of my head, those are the ones I see most often.
There were imports even in the early days, such as sugar cane (which is easier to transport than plants that spoil). Sugar-cane plants had been imported and grown by Roman times. But even though many "herbals" include plants like sugar cane and cinnamon, I still think the great majority of the VMS plants are temperate-zone plants.
.
Edit [addition]: I forgot one (a common one)! gall oak. Often included... for obvious reasons.
Oh bummer, once my mind goes into "seek" mode (rumbling around in my brain for certain kinds of information), it won't stop. Agnus-Castus is commonly included. Also pistacio, arbutus, styrax, ricinus, camphor, olive, laurel, myrtle, mulberry, acer, pine, bombax, tree spurge (many herbals include this one).
I'll stop now even though my mind will keep distracting me by dredging these up for the next 20 minutes. Suffice it to say, trees are quite common to herbals, but each tradition has its own favorites and they are usually the minority portion.