Glycyrrhiza

genus of plants

Glycyrrhiza is a genus of about 18 species in the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae). It is found in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. It is best known for liquorice (British English; licorice in American English), which is the product of G. glabra, a species from the Mediterranean region. Very little G. glabra is grown in North America, but American Licorice G. lepidota is a common native species there. Russian Liquorice (G. echinata) and Chinese Liquorice (G. uralensis, Chinese: gāncǎo, 甘草 lit. "sweet grass" or "sweet herb") are also grown, the latter being important in traditional Chinese medicine.

Glycyrrhiza
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Scientific classification
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Glycyrrhiza
Species

~18, see text

Species include: