What is an herbaceous plant characterized by?

An herbaceous plant is characterized primarily by having little or no woody tissue, which distinguishes it from woody plants. These plants generally have soft stems that die back to the ground at the end of the growing season, although some may persist for several years as perennials. The delicate structure of herbaceous plants allows them to be highly adaptable to various environmental conditions.

The other options do not capture the essence of herbaceous plants. For example, plants with a large woody stem structure are classified as shrubs or trees, which are fundamentally different in their growth habits and physical characteristics. A perennial shrub denotes a plant that remains alive for several years but does not accurately define herbaceous traits, as many perennial shrubs have woody structures. Similarly, the statement that a plant never flowers is incorrect, as many herbaceous species do produce flowers. Therefore, the defining characteristic of herbaceous plants is their predominantly non-woody structure.