wild licorice
Noun: 1. A common name for two distinct plants, both having sweet-tasting roots reminiscent of true licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). * European perennial: A European plant (Galium mollugo or related species) of the bedstraw family, known for its sweetish roots. * North American plant: A North American plant (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) related to true licorice, possessing a root with similar properties.
- The forager identified wild licorice growing on the prairie, noting its distinctive seed pods.
- Some herbalists use the root of wild licorice as a mild flavoring agent.
- The term is used in botanical and foraging contexts to describe non-cultivated plants with licorice-like flavor profiles. It is important to distinguish between the European bedstraw () and the North American legume (), as they are from different plant families.
- American licorice: Another common name for .
- Licorice bedstraw: A name for the European species.
- Glycyrrhiza lepidota: The scientific name for the North American plant.
- Galium mollugo: The scientific name for one of the European plants.
- (For ): American licorice
- (For species): Licorice bedstraw, sweet bedstraw
This term has two primary botanical meanings: 1. It most accurately refers to Glycyrrhiza lepidota, a North American perennial legume closely related to commercial licorice. 2. It is also used for certain European bedstraw plants (Galium species) whose roots have a sweet, licorice-like taste, though they are not botanically related to true licorice. Context (geographic or botanical) usually clarifies which plant is intended.
- European perennial
- North American plant similar to true licorice and having a root with similar properties
- bedstraw with sweetish roots