Liquorice

Herbaceous plant belonging to the papilionaceous family, growing to over 1 m in height with a long, thick taproot and thick secondary roots. The roots contain glycyrrhizin, a triterpene saponin with about 50 times the sweetening power of sucrose. The "licorice juice" (liquiritiae succus) extracted from the roots is further processed into licorice confectionery. Clustered, bluish-purple and white flowers, small, brown seed capsules. Flowering time: June to September.

The dried roots(Liquiritiae radix) are used phytotherapeutically.

Liquorice has been used as a remedy since the Middle Ages, and in Great Britain there were liquorice coins for therapeutic purposes. In 1760, George Dunhill (pharmacist) added sugar to the licorice, and licorice has been available as a sweet ever since.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/suessholz.php
2. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/glycyrrhiza_glabra/suessholz.htm
3. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/suessholz.htm