Identifying an Herb: Scientific Name, Plant Part, and Product Form

What “Identifying an Herb” Means

Identifying an herb means knowing three things about a product: the plant's scientific name, the plant part used, and the product form. Together, these details show what a product actually contains. A common name alone often does not.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says herbs, also called botanicals, are one type of nutritional approach. They are often sold as dietary supplements. Here is what each of the three details means:

Scientific name: The Latin name of the plant, such as Echinacea purpurea. The first word names the plant's group (genus). The second names the species.
Plant part: Which part of the plant a product uses, such as root, leaf, flower, or seed. The NCCIH pages used for this guide do not say which part any given product uses. So this guide treats it as a label question to check, not something to assume.
Product form: How the product is made and used. The NCCIH echinacea fact sheet mentions products made with extracts, solid or liquid extracts, products taken by mouth, and products put on the skin (called topical use). An extract is made by drawing substances out of plant material.

If You Have a Reaction, Get Help First

If you or someone else has signs of a severe allergic reaction after using an herbal product, call your local emergency number right away. Examples include trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat. NCCIH notes that some people have allergic reactions to echinacea, which may be severe.

Do not start, stop, or change any medicine because of this article. Talk with a pharmacist or health care provider first.

Myth Versus Reality

Myth: A common name tells me exactly what is in a product. Reality: One plant can have several common names, and one common name can cover several species. NCCIH's echinacea fact sheet lists four common names (echinacea, purple coneflower, coneflower, and American coneflower) and three Latin names (Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida). Its safety statements also name specific species, so a Latin name is a more precise starting point.
Myth: An herb is harmless because it comes from a plant. Reality: NCCIH says some people have allergic reactions to echinacea. It also says some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways, so anyone taking medicine should talk to a health care provider before using herbal products.
Myth: The FDA approves herbal supplements before they are sold. Reality: NCCIH says dietary supplements are not approved by the FDA before they are sold to the public. Manufacturers and distributors are responsible for evaluating safety and labeling before marketing.
Myth: Two products with the same herb are the same. Reality: NCCIH-sponsored research on echinacea suggests that the activity of its extracts is influenced by soil conditions that affect the plant's bacterial community. This is one herb's early research. It does not show how any particular product compares with another.
Myth: If an herb is popular, research has shown it works. Reality: NCCIH says researchers have done large, rigorous studies on a few dietary supplements. The results often showed the products did not work for the conditions studied. Research on others is still in progress.

Evidence Limits

Here is what this guide can and cannot tell you:

The main NCCIH page is a general explainer. Its page notes list an April 2021 update. It explains terms but gives no herb-by-herb identification rules.
NCCIH's Herbs at a Glance series gives short fact sheets on specific herbs. Each covers common names, what the science says, and side effects and cautions. Not every herb has a fact sheet.
The echinacea sheet is one example. Other herbs may differ in species, evidence, and cautions. Check the fact sheet for your specific herb.
This guide cannot tell you whether a specific product contains what its label says.
This guide does not say whether any herb is right, safe, or helpful for you.

Your Herb Identification Worksheet

Fill this out for each herbal product before you talk with a pharmacist or provider.

Write down the product name and brand exactly as printed.
List every common name on the label.
Write the scientific (Latin) name if the label gives one. If it does not, write “not listed.”
Write the plant part if the label names one. If not, write “not listed.”
Note the form (for example, extract) and whether it is taken by mouth or put on the skin.
Copy any other ingredients listed.
Look up the herb on NCCIH's Herbs at a Glance page. Compare the common and Latin names, and read the cautions.
List your current medicines and other supplements so you can share them. Our guide to supplement disclosure before a procedure shows how to build a complete, shareable list.

Questions to Bring to a Pharmacist or Provider

Does the scientific name on my label match the herb I am asking about?
Does the plant part or product form matter for what I am asking?
Could this herb interact with any medicine or supplement I take?
Are there extra cautions for allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or giving it to a child? (NCCIH advises talking with a provider before giving echinacea to a child, and consulting a provider about use in pregnancy.)
What signs should I watch for, and who should I contact if I notice them?

Sources

About This Page

By the Integrative Health Evidence Guide Team. Updated September 23, 2026.

This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not diagnose, recommend treatment, or replace advice from your own health care provider or pharmacist. It does not recommend, rank, or sell any product, and no doctor or clinician is credited as an author or reviewer. This site also includes clinical practice information. This article is independent educational content and does not represent a recommendation or clinical opinion from any individual clinician. Learn more about how we research and source our articles on our Editorial Standards page, or visit the home page.