Morphological Characteristics of Licorice and Introduction to Suitable Growing Conditions

[Morphological Characteristics]

Licorice is a perennial herb, 30-100 cm tall. The whole plant is covered with short white pubescence and glandular hairs. The above-ground stem is erect, woody at the lower part, with angular, green branchlets. The leaves are alternate, odd-pinnately compound. The leaflets are in 3-8 pairs, ovate or ovate-elliptic, with entire margins, and the terminal leaflet is larger. The inflorescence is a raceme, axillary, with very short pedicels, an ovate bracteole below the base, a bell-shaped green calyx, and a papilionaceous corolla in purplish-red or blue-purple. The fruit is a legume, narrowly rectangular, curved into a sickle shape or semi-ring shape, brown, densely covered with prickly hairs. The seeds number 5-8, ovate and slightly flattened, with a smooth, brown surface.

[Suitable Growing Conditions]

Licorice prefers light and is cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and tolerant of poor soil, withstanding low temperatures of -10°C. Because licorice is a deep-rooted plant, sites with a high groundwater table are not suitable for its growth, as they easily cause root rot and seedling death. Sandy loam is the best soil; clay soil and poorly drained low-lying areas are not suitable for cultivating licorice.