Glycyrrhiza lepidota
American licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota, commonly known as American licorice, is a perennial herb native to North American prairies. Renowned for its sweet, aromatic root, it has long been utilized in traditional medicine to soothe digestive ailments, alleviate coughs, and reduce inflammation, offering a potent, indigenous alternative to Asian licorice varieties.
- Scientific name: Glycyrrhiza lepidota
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Glycyrrhiza, specifically as the species Glycyrrhiza lepidota.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Glycyrrhiza | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known in English as American licorice, carries various names across different languages and cultures. In the Navajo language, it is referred to as Ałtaʼneetsʼéhiitsʼóóz, while in Polish, it is called Ameriski słódnik. It is also identified in Arabic as عرقسوس منقط الحراشف and in Hebrew as שוש אמריקאי.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| en | American licorice | Wikidata |
| nv | Ałtaʼneetsʼéhiitsʼóóz | Wikidata |
| hsb | Ameriski słódnik | Wikidata |
| ar | عرقسوس منقط الحراشف | Wikidata |
| he | שוש אמריקאי | Wikidata |
| ca | regalèssia americana | Wikidata |
| arz | عرقسوس منقط الحراشف | Wikidata |
| sl | ameriški sladki koren | Wikidata |
| en | wild licorice | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several regions of Canada. In Western Canada, it can be found growing throughout the province of Alberta. Its range also extends across the vast landscapes of British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Additionally, this species is present within the prairie provinces of Manitoba. Finally, its distribution reaches into Eastern Canada, specifically within the province of Ontario.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Canada | Alberta | WCVP |
| Western Canada | British Columbia | WCVP |
| Western Canada | Manitoba | WCVP |
| Western Canada | Saskatchewan | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Colorado | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Idaho | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Montana | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Oregon | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Washington | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as American licorice, possesses distinct morphological features, most notably its compound leaves which are used as a key identifier for the species. The leaves are typically pinnately compound, consisting of several small, oval-shaped leaflets arranged along a central stem, providing a lush, green texture to the foliage. While the medicinal potency of Glycyrrhiza lepidota is primarily concentrated in its roots, the structural characteristics of the leaves are essential for botanical classification and field identification.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Glycyrrhiza lepidota has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include glepidotin A, glepidotin B.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| glepidotin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glepidotin B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Glycyrrhiza lepidota has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include HIV-1.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| HIV-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |