Wild Liquorice

Wild Liquorice beside a track,
South Somerset

Flowerhead from front

Flowerhead from side

Front view of flower

Side view

View from above

Seed pods

Leaves and robust, kinked stem

Leaflets
Astragalus glycyphyllos
Milk-vetch, Liquorice Milk-vetch
Fabaceae
June to August
It occurs in central southern counties, the Southeast, the
East Midlands and parts of Yorkshire.
It is thinly scattered or absent elsewhere.
For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland
It grows in rough grassy and bushy places on calcareous
soils on wasteland and beside roads, railways and tracks.
It is in decline due to loss of habitat and tidying up.
Wild Liquorice is a native straggling, robust, perennial herb
growing up to 1.5m.
Flowerheads are on short, stalked spikes and up to 5cm.
Flowers are creamy-white with green lines.and up to
15mm.
Seed pods are curved and up to 4cm.
The leaves are up to 20cm and may have up to 15 leaflets.
Leaflets are up to 4cm.
Stems are robust and kinked.
The roots are long and contain glycyrrhizin which can be
extracted for making liquorice.
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