Botanical Names and Plant Parts on Labels: Why They Matter
Why the scientific plant name and the plant part on a herbal label matter, with documented examples from chamomile, echinacea, ginkgo, black cohosh and goldenseal.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Quick answer
A common name such as "chamomile" or "cohosh" can point to more than one plant, and different parts of the same plant can differ in safety. The scientific name (genus and species) and the plant part are the details that pin down what a product is meant to contain. We explain the labeling; we do not give identification advice for plants you find outdoors. If someone may have eaten an unknown plant, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US (other countries: Poison Help by Country).
How the sources define the terms
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) defines herbal substances as mainly whole, fragmented or cut plants or plant parts in an unprocessed, usually dried form, and says they are precisely defined by the plant part used and the botanical name according to the binomial system (genus, species, variety and author). [1] An EU herbal monograph shows this in practice: sweet fennel is written as Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce (Mill.) Batt. & Trab., fructus, and the herbal substance is listed as "Dry fruit". [2]Documented examples of why it matters
| Herb | The label trap | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Chamomile | Two different chamomiles | NCCIH: there are two types, German and Roman chamomile; its fact sheet covers German chamomile. [3] NCCIH lists Matricaria recutita, Chamomilla recutita and Matricaria chamomilla under German chamomile. [3] GBIF treats Matricaria chamomilla L. as the accepted name and M. recutita as a synonym. [4] |
| Echinacea | Several species | NCCIH lists Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia and E. pallida. [5] A result for one species or preparation should not be assumed for another. |
| Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) | Leaf versus seed | Leaf extract is the most common form; fresh ginkgo seeds are toxic when eaten. [6] |
| Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) | Look-alike names and wrong herb | The root or rhizome is the part used. [7] Black cohosh and blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) are different herbs. [7] Some commercial products contained the wrong herb. [7] |
| Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) | Other herbs in the product | Some products contain other herbs or ingredients not listed on the label, in addition to or instead of goldenseal. [8] |
| Turmeric (Curcuma longa) | Related species and extracts | NCCIH lists Curcuma longa (synonym C. domestica) and C. aromatica; it also says oral curcumin products vary in how much curcumin they actually contain. [9] |
GBIF accepts Ginkgo biloba L., Hydrastis canadensis L., Actaea racemosa L. and Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx. as current names. [4]
Plant part: what the label should say
A label that gives only a common name such as "turmeric" or "echinacea" leaves out which part of the plant was used. That matters because safety can differ by part, as with ginkgo leaf and seed. [6] Where a label gives a part, it is the manufacturer's statement; we found no way for a reader to confirm it from the label alone.Frequently asked questions
Why do labels use Latin names?
The EMA defines herbal substances by the plant part and the botanical name in the binomial system, so the same two details identify a material across countries and languages. [1]
Are German and Roman chamomile the same?
No. NCCIH describes them as two types of chamomile. [3]
Does a scientific name guarantee the right plant is inside?
No. NCCIH reports commercial goldenseal and black cohosh products that contained other herbs or the wrong herb. [8] [7]
Which plant part is safe?
It depends on the plant. For ginkgo, NCCIH says leaf extract is the common form, while fresh seeds are toxic. [6] Ask a pharmacist about the specific herb.
Can this page help me identify a plant?
No. We do not give identification instructions. For possible plant poisoning see plant and mushroom poisoning.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Limits and uncertainty
Proper evidence not found: we did not find, in the sources we read, a current count of how many herbal products in a given country carry a wrong species or part. A review of mass-spectrometry methods notes that unintentional mislabeling can happen with morphologically similar species. [10] We searched PubMed for studies of species substitution in botanical supplements. See adulteration and substitution of herbs for what was found.
Safety and who should ask
Ask a pharmacist or clinician which species and part a study or monograph used before comparing it with a product. Interactions depend on the herb and preparation; see how interactions work. For more on names, see plant names and nomenclature and plant parts used in herbal products.
References
- European Medicines Agency. Herbal substances (glossary). Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. European Union herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce (Mill.) Batt. & Trab., fructus, Revision 1, EMEA/HMPC/372839/2016. Dated 31 January 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH, US). Chamomile: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated November 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, species match service. Names checked through the GBIF API. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH, US). Echinacea: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated November 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH, US). Ginkgo: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated February 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH, US). Black Cohosh: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated November 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH, US). Goldenseal: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated February 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH, US). Turmeric: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated April 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- Grazina L, Mafra I, Monaci L, Amaral JS. Mass spectrometry-based approaches to assess the botanical authenticity of dietary supplements. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. 2023;22(5):3870-3909. PMID 37548598. Read 2026-10-23.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.