Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Glycyrrhiza lepidota var. glutinosa, Glycyrrhiza glutinosa
Other common names
wild licorice
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12 to 40 inches
Riparian
Yes
Aromatic perennial; stems erect, simple or branched; leaves oddly-pinnate; the leaflets thickly sprinkled with gland dots; flowers in dense, spike-like racemes, containing between 20 and 50 flowers. The root has a distinct licorice flavor.
Perennial, rhizomatous, looks like a large Astragalus, tall leafy stems; leaves have odd numbers of leaflets, 11 to 19; flowers whitish, in dense spike-like clusters, sepals longer than the flower tube; fruit are spiny, cocklebur-like seed pods.
Habitat
Found on streambanks, riverbanks, and roadsides, in coniferous forests and meadows.
Plant Community
Riparian
Montane Conifer Forest
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers crowded on terminal spike up to 8 inches long; sepals 5-cleft and longer than flower tube; upper lip 2-cleft, largest and angled upwards, the smaller wing and keel petals project outwards; each flower subtended by bract up to 1/4 inch long.
Flower color
White to cream-colored
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stem is covered with minute, sticky hairs; leaves alternate and pinnately compound; 11 to 19 leaflets per leaf, oblong to lance-like; leaflets to 2 inches long, lower surface dotted with small glands.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruits are distinctive; green, oblong, spreading pods, 1/2 inch long, covered by stout, erect, hooked bristles (resembles a cocklebur), white at the base, often pink towards the tip. Pods become brown as they wither.
Fruit type
Pod
Fruit color
Brown