Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Herbs, perennial. Stem 50-150 cm tall, woody at base, densely scaly glandular punctate, white hairy. Leaves 5-14 cm, 11-17-foliolate; stipules caducous, linear, 1-2 mm; petiole densely yellow-brown glandular hairy and villous; leaflets ovate-oblong, oblong-lanceolate, or elliptic, 1.7-4 × 0.8-2 cm, abaxially densely yellow scaly glandular punctate and pubes­cent on veins, adaxially glabrescent or pilose, base rounded, apex rounded or retuse and with mucro. Racemes much and densely flowered; rachis densely brown scaly glandular punc­tate, white villous and tomentose; bracts lanceolate, ca. 2 mm, membranous. Calyx campanulate, 5-7 mm, sparsely yellow glandular punctate and pubescent, 5-toothed; upper 2 teeth mostly joined. Corolla purple or light purple, 9-12 mm; stan­dard ovate or oblong, 1-1.1 cm, base clawed, apex retuse; wings 8-9 mm; keel straight, 7-8 mm. Ovary glabrous. Leg­ume oblong, flat, 17-35 × 4.5-7 mm, rarely constricted be­tween seeds, glabrous or sparsely hairy, rarely glandular hairy. Seeds 2-8, dark green, ca. 2 mm in diam., smooth. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Jul-Sep. 2n = 16*.

It does well in warm temperate and subtropical climates. It grows well in areas suitable for citrus. It needs a deep light soil. It needs a sunny position. It can tolerate drought. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

The extract from the roots is used to flavour foods which are eaten. The sweet root is chewed. It is the source of licorice. The root is used to flavour drinks. The leaves are used for tea.

It is grown from seed or cuttings from the stolons. The seed has a hard seed coat and needs to be treated before sowing. Seeds only germinate slowly. Growing from cuttings is more easy. Root cuttings 20-40 cm long are used. These can be planted vertically in the soil. Plants are often grown with 30 cm between plants and 60 cm between rows.