Family: Fabaceae
Glycyrrhiza
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 741 (1753).
Derivation: Greco-Latin name of the Mediterranean G. glabra L., whose roots produce the liquorice of commerce; from Greek glykys, sweet; rhiza, root.
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: None
Description:
Perennial glandular herbs; leaves imparipinnate, with 4-7 paired leaflets, rarely 3-foliolate, gland-dotted; stipules minute, lanceolate; stipels absent; racemes or spikes axillary, many-flowered, lax to much contracted even subcapitate; bracts small, caducous; calyx campanulate, with 5 subequal teeth, the upper 2 united partly sometimes into a short lip; petals narrow, yellow or blue to mauve; standard nearly sessile, ovate-lanceolate or oblong; keel shorter, obtuse or almost acute; stamens diadelphous, the upper 1 cohering at the base; anthers alternately large and small, the cells confluent at their summit; ovary sessile, with 2-4 ovules; style incurved, glabrous, with an oblique stigma.
Distribution:
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About 12 species in the Mediterranean region, temperate Asia, North and South America and Australia.
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Biology:
No text
Key to Species:
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1. Leaflets less than 1 cm wide; flowers 5-8 mm long; pod 1-seeded, ovoid, covered with hooked prickles |
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G. acanthocarpa 1. |
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1. Leaflets more than 1 cm wide; flowers 10-13 mm long; pod usually several-seeded, linear-oblong, smooth |
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G. glabra 2. |
Author:
Not yet available
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