2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Licorice (lat. Glycyrrhiza) - a small genus of rhizome herbaceous perennial plants, representing the legume family on the planet (lat. Fabaceae). Plants of the genus have adapted so well to life on Earth that they are found on all continents except frosty Antarctica. The thickened creeping rhizome gives life not only to the aerial parts of the plant, but also forms a complex root system in the soil. Glycyrrhizic acid contained in the roots gives them a specific sweetish taste. Roots and rhizomes are used by humans for medicinal purposes, when it is necessary to support the respiratory system affected by viral diseases.
What's in your name
The Latin name of the genus "Glycyrrhiza" ("Licorice") is based on two ancient Greek words that are translated into Russian by the expression "sweet root".
This is not an allegory, but a fact of life. The fact is that the rhizome and roots of plants of the genus have a sweetish taste. A similar taste is given to the roots by the glycyrrhizic acid contained in them, the name of which clearly has the same basis as the name of the genus of plants, that is, all the same ancient Greek words. It remains only to wonder how much Ancient Greece gave to Mankind, that for two and a half thousand years we are constantly looking back to the past in order to decipher the meaning of many things, phenomena and names.
Description
From the creeping thickened rhizome, the taproot goes deep into the ground in order to extract nutrients from the bowels of the Earth for the aboveground parts of the plant. In addition to the taproot, the plant forms a whole network of roots located horizontally in the soil, which become prey for people who collect medicinal plants.
The rhizome and roots are the guarantor of the perenniality of plants of the genus Licorice, showing thin and strong erect stems on the surface of the earth. Long, complex leaves formed by pairs of pointed-nosed leaves make them similar to many plants of other genera of the legume family. The leaves are often covered with a sticky coating.
In the axils of the leaves, on long peduncles, dense inflorescences are born from typical moth-type flowers. The color of the flowers absorbs different shades of lilac.
The pinnacle is the pinnacle of the growing season, with one to eight seeds hiding inside.
Varieties
The genus cannot boast of great diversity, numbering about twenty species in its ranks. Here are some of them:
* Naked licorice (lat. Glycyrrhiza glabra), also known in our country under a different name, "Licorice".
* Licorice Goncharova (lat. Glycyrrhiza gontscharovii)
* Macedonian licorice (lat. Glycyrrhiza macedonica)
* Three-leaf licorice (lat. Glycyrrhiza triphylla)
* Ural licorice (lat. Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
* Licorice Korzhinsky (lat. Glycyrrhiza korshinskyi)
* Licorice rough (lat. Glycyrrhiza aspera)
* Licorice bristly (lat. Glycyrrhiza echinata)
* Bukhara licorice (lat. Glycyrrhiza bucharica).
Usage
Some species of the genus, such as Ural Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), Korzhinsky Licorice (Glycyrrhiza korshinskyi), are used by medicine to treat a number of diseases.
But the most popular in medicine is Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), or Licorice. Its rhizome and numerous roots contain substances that can liquefy phlegm that clogs the respiratory tract of a person with various diseases of the respiratory system.
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Pale-flowered Licorice
Pale-flowered licorice is one of the plants in the legume family, in Latin the name of this plant will sound like this: Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Maxim. As for the name of the pale-flowered licorice family itself, in Latin it will be like this:
Licorice Smooth
Licorice smooth is one of the plants of a family called legumes, in Latin the name of this plant will sound like this: Glycyrrhiza glabra L. As for the name of the family of licorice smooth, in Latin it will be like this: Fabaceae Lindl. (Leguminosae Juss.
Naked Licorice
Naked licorice is one of the plants of the family called legumes, in Latin the name of this plant will sound as follows: Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (G. glandulifera Waldst. et Kit. G. violacea Boiss., G. glabra L. var.glandulifera (Waldst. et Kit.
Macedonian Licorice
Macedonian licorice is one of the plants of a family called legumes, in Latin the name of this plant will sound like this: Glycyrrhiza foetidissima Tausch. As for the name of the Macedonian licorice family itself, in Latin it will be like this:
Licorice Korzhinsky
Licorice Korzhinsky is one of the plants of a family called legumes, in Latin the name of this plant will sound as follows: Glycyrrhiza Korshinskyi L. As for the name of the Korzhinsky licorice family itself, in Latin it will be like this: Fabaceae Lindl.
