Practical
Plants

Glycyrrhiza lepidota

American Liquorice

a perennial member of the Glycyrrhiza genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Very young growth can be poisonous to animals[8].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - raw or cooked[4][12][13][6]. Long, sweet and fleshy[1], when slow roasted they are said to taste like sweet potatoes[3][7]. They can be used as a flavouring in other foods and can also be chewed raw as a masticatory[2][3][8], making an excellent tooth cleaner and also very good for teething children. The root contains 6% glycyrrhizin, a substance that is 50 times sweeter than sugar[3]. The tender young shoots can be eaten raw in the spring[3][10].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

American liquorice was widely employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who used it in the treatment of a range of diseases[10]. All parts of the body are medicinal, but the roots are the most active part. This species has properties similar to other liquorices which are widely used medicinally, though this species is rather neglected in modern literature. An infusion of the root is used to speed the delivery of the placenta after childbirth, it is also used to treat coughs, diarrhoea, chest pains, fevers in children, stomach aches etc[7][10]. It is also used as a wash or poultice on swellings[10]. The chewed root is retained in the mouth as a treatment for toothache and sore throats[7][10]. The mashed leaves are used as a poultice on sores[7][10]. The leaves have been placed in the shoes to absorb moisture[10].

Product or use
Birthing aid
Product or use
Foot care
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
N. America - Saskatchewan to British Columbia, south to California and Mexico.
Habitat
Cultivated ground, waste places, roadsides, prairies, gravelly river bottoms and moist mountain draws to 2,100 metres[8]. Usually grows in patches, frequently in heavy clay and saline soils[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow spring or autumn in a greenhouse[5]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on for their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer when in active growth. Plants are rather slow to grow from seed[9]. Division of the root in spring or autumn. Each division must have at least one growth bud. Autumn divisions can either be replanted immediately or stored in clamps until the spring and then be planted out[5]. It is best to pt up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a cold frame until they are established before planting them out in the spring or summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a deep well cultivated fertile moisture-retentive soil for good root production[5]. Prefers a sandy soil with abundant moisture[9]. Slightly alkaline conditions produce the best plants[9]. A very deep-rooted plant, it can be difficult to eradicate once it is established[9]. Unless seed is required, the plant is usually prevented from flowering so that it puts more energy into producing good quality roots[9]. Plants are growing very well at Kew[K]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[5].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Davies. D. Alliums. The Ornamental Onions. Batsford 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7134-7030-5

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  7. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  10. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  11. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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