Fabaceae FAMILY

Glycyrrhiza inflata

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & Hazards

Whilst licorice is basically a very safe and effective medicine, when used over a long period or in large quantities it can raise the blood pressure. A gross overdose of the root can cause oedema, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure[ 9 Title Edible and Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Launert. E. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2 Description Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information. , 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. ].

Botanical Description

Glycyrrhiza inflata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a robust, rhizomatous rootstock. It produces a cluster of stems that become more or less wooy at the base, growing 50 - 150cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. Licorice root is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines and sweeteners/flavourings in the temperate zone, the roots being obtained from this species and also from Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeAsia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, northwest China

HabitatRiverbanks, dry stream banks, margins of farms, wastelands; at elevations around 1,100 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].