Liquorice
Family Leguminosae: Papilionaceae (or Fabaceae)
Glycyrrhiza glabra, liquorice (G. glabra 1), is a perennial herb, up to 125 cm high, with compound pinnate leaves and pale blue flowers, borne in many-flowered axillary racemes. The pods are small, 2-3 cm long, containing 3-4 seeds.
Distribution
Liquorice is a native of the Mediterranean region and was known to the ancient Greeks. Around 1300 the plant was introduced into West Europe for its medicinal properties.
Use
The dried rhizomes (G. glabra 2) contains a flavour that is applied in sweets, drinks, and cough pastilles. It is also used to colour beer, tobacco and shoe polish. For this purpose the powdered rhizomes are boiled and the extract is thickened into a brown-black mass.