Glycyrrhiza
Encyclopedia
Glycyrrhiza is a genus of about 18 accepted species in the legume family (Fabaceae
), with a subcosmopolitan distribution in Asia
, Australia
, Europe
, and the Americas
.
The genus is best known for liquorice (British English
; licorice in American English
), G. glabra, a species native to the Mediterranean region, from which the confectionary called Liquorice is produced. 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; ) are also cultivated, the latter being important in traditional Chinese medicine
. Also known by following names in these languages: Hindi - mulethi, Sanskrit – yastimadhu, Gujarati name - jethimadh.
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
), with a subcosmopolitan distribution in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
.
The genus is best known for liquorice (British English
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
; licorice in American English
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
), G. glabra, a species native to the Mediterranean region, from which the confectionary called Liquorice is produced. Very little G. glabra is grown in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, but American Licorice
American Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota is a species of Glycyrrhiza native to most of North America, from central Canada south through the United States to California, Texas and Virginia, but absent from the southeastern states...
G. lepidota is a common native species there. Russian Liquorice (G. echinata) and Chinese Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Glycyrrhiza uralensis, also known as Chinese liquorice, is a flowering plant native to Asia, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine.- Medicinal uses :...
(G. uralensis; ) are also cultivated, the latter being important in traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
. Also known by following names in these languages: Hindi - mulethi, Sanskrit – yastimadhu, Gujarati name - jethimadh.
Species
Species include:- Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa
- Glycyrrhiza aspera
- Glycyrrhiza astragalina
- Glycyrrhiza bucharica
- Glycyrrhiza echinata - Russian liquorice
- Glycyrrhiza eglandulosa
- Glycyrrhiza foetida
- Glycyrrhiza foetidissima
- Glycyrrhiza glabra - liquorice, licorice
- Glycyrrhiza gontscharovii
- Glycyrrhiza iconica
- Glycyrrhiza inflataGlycyrrhiza inflataGlycyrrhiza inflata is a plant species in the genus Glycyrrhiza from China.Licochalcone A, licochalcone B and licochalcone D are chalconoids isolated from root of G. inflata as well as glycyrrhizin....
- Glycyrrhiza korshinskyi
- Glycyrrhiza lepidota - American licorice
- Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora
- Glycyrrhiza squamulosa
- Glycyrrhiza triphylla
- Glycyrrhiza uralensisGlycyrrhiza uralensisGlycyrrhiza uralensis, also known as Chinese liquorice, is a flowering plant native to Asia, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine.- Medicinal uses :...
- Chinese liquorice - Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis