Download WILD LICORICE

WILD LICORICE
(Glycyrrhiza lepidota (Nutt.) Pursh)
COMMON NAMES:
American licorice
DESPRCIPTION:
Wild licorice is a perennial and form long, tough taproots that interconnect the root crowns. The plants
are hairless. They may grow up to 3 feet tall. Leaves are pinnate that look like two combs set back to
back and are up to 8 inches long. Each leaf bears 7-21 leaflets that are up to 1 ½ inches long that have
small scales when they are young. The scales soon change to sticky, resinous dots. About 10-20 pale,
whitish-yellow flowers that are about ½ inch long and are grouped into spikes about 2-3 inches long that
arise in the middle and upper branches. Wild licorice will bloom from May-August. It has light green to
white flowers that ripen in the fall to cluster of burs which contain pods of small bean like seeds. The
seeds are enclosed in dark brown pods that are equipped with hooked like prickles like a cocklebur.
KEY FEATURES OF WILD LICORICE:
Wild licorice has aromatic creeping roots with a licorice scent. It has pinnately compound leaves with
11-19 leaflets. This plant will have reddish brown bur-like pods.
HABITAT:
Wild licorice can be found in forage crops, hay fields, rangeland, right of ways and waste areas.
CONTROL:
Herbicides that control Wild licorice are Redeem/Quali Pro 2-D, Banvel and 2, 4-D, Escort and Tordon.
For more information and mixing instructions on herbicides read the labels or contact the SCWP office.
OTHER FACTS:
Wild licorice was widely used as medicine by Native Americans on the Great Plains. It was used for teas
as a fever remedy for children. The liquid from the steeped leaves were applied to the ears to relieve
ear aches and the roots were chewed on to relieve toothaches and sore throats.