Glycyrrhiza

The genus Licorice (Glycyrrhiza), unites about 20 perennial herbaceous plants with a creeping rhizome and non-pinnate leaves, with white, purple or yellow flowers in axillary racemes. Plants are afraid of prolonged frosts, so they are more often grown in warm or mild climates, or at least in a place that is reliably protected from the wind. Licorice glabra (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is the best - known and most common type of licorice. It is grown for decorative purposes, but most importantly - as a source of medicinal raw materials, the so-called licorice, or licorice root, which is also used in the food industry, brewing and for technical purposes. Compound leaves consist of 9-17 sticky leaflets of oblong and elliptical shape. In spring and even in autumn, moth-like flowers (similar in shape to a butterfly), painted in light blue or purple tones, bloom in brushes. Fruits-beans long up to 4 cm, each containing 4 seeds. Licorice bramble (G. echinata) - a species found in natural conditions in swampy areas, in culture they are practically not engaged. Leaves-from 5-13 leaflets, the shape of which varies from lanceolate to elliptical.

The genus Licorice (Glycyrrhiza), unites about 20 perennial herbaceous plants with a creeping rhizome and non-pinnate leaves, with white, purple or yellow flowers in axillary racemes. Plants are afraid of prolonged frosts, so they are more often grown in warm or mild climates, or at least in a place that is reliably protected from the wind.

Licorice glabra (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is the best - known and most common type of licorice. It is grown for decorative purposes, but most importantly - as a source of medicinal raw materials, the so-called licorice, or licorice root, which is also used in the food industry, brewing and for technical purposes. Compound leaves consist of 9-17 sticky leaflets of oblong and elliptical shape. In spring and even in autumn, moth-like flowers (similar in shape to a butterfly), painted in light blue or purple tones, bloom in brushes. Fruits-beans long up to 4 cm, each containing 4 seeds.

Licorice bramble (G. echinata) - a species found in natural conditions in swampy areas, in culture they are practically not engaged. Leaves-from 5-13 leaflets, the shape of which varies from lanceolate to elliptical.

Cultivation

Naked licorice is grown in the open ground in group plantings and in borders in the garden. Planting is carried out in spring (in areas with cold winters) or in autumn. These plants prefer deep, fertile land, sufficiently moistened, with the addition of rotten foliage or other well-decomposed organic materials (5-6 kg /m2). When cultivating for medicinal purposes, collecting rhizomes, there should be no pebbles and other stones in the ground, so that they do not interfere with the growth of roots and do not weaken the plants.

Naked licorice is grown in the open ground in group plantings and in borders in the garden. Planting is carried out in spring (in areas with cold winters) or in autumn. These plants prefer deep, fertile land, sufficiently moistened, with the addition of rotten foliage or other well-decomposed organic materials (5-6 kg /m2). When cultivating for medicinal purposes, collecting rhizomes, there should be no pebbles and other stones in the ground, so that they do not interfere with the growth of roots and do not weaken the plants.

Location

Licorice bare requires partial shade in a place protected from the wind. This plant is ideally suited to undergrowth.

Temperature

Naked licorice is resistant to both high and low air temperatures (up to -15 °C), but is afraid of prolonged frosts.

Watering

They are usually watered frequently, constantly keeping the soil moist, without stagnation of water.

Reproduction

In autumn, a part of the rhizome is taken from plants that are at least three years old and stored in the sand until early spring, when it is planted in a permanent place in the ground. In autumn, you can also divide bushes (usually plants older than three years of age). The resulting parts are immediately planted on the site. Finally, you can propagate licorice by sowing seeds in spring or autumn. Grown seedlings are thinned out and transplanted to a permanent planting site.

Diseases

When grown in waterlogged soil with stagnant water, various fungi can provoke the onset of putrefaction processes in the roots and root neck. This can be prevented by monitoring irrigation. The most common of the dangerous insects are moths, whose caterpillars gnaw on the leaves. They are removed manually, trying to avoid insecticide treatment if they are going to use the rhizomes of plants.

Acquisition

Licorice rhizomes can be found in horticultural centers offering the widest range, and in specialized nurseries. Make a purchase in early spring or autumn, during periods when they can be planted directly in the ground. Make sure that they are fresh and well preserved.

Thousands of Licorice Properties In addition to its well-known use in the food industry as a flavoring agent, licorice is also used for its many medicinal properties. It is used for general strengthening of the body during periods of stress, to mitigate various diseases of the respiratory tract (cough, cold and bronchitis), liver and kidneys, to treat peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The active ingredient saponin glycyrrhizin is extracted from the dried roots, which has, among other things, sweetening properties that are 50 times stronger than those of other plants. sugar. The medicinal properties of this plant have been known for a long time. The ancient Greeks used it as early as the 4th century BC. In the rest of Europe, licorice began to be used from the 14th century. In its natural form, that is, using rhizomes directly, it is rarely used. Licorice is a common component of many medicinal preparations and collections of medicinal herbs. The crop is harvested in autumn, these are rhizomes of 3-4-year-old plants. If they are grown from parts of the rhizome, then the crop can be harvested as early as the 1st year. To prepare for use, the excavated rhizomes are washed and dried.

Thousands of Licorice Properties

In addition to its well-known use in the food industry as a flavoring agent, licorice is also used for its many medicinal properties. It is used for general strengthening of the body during periods of stress, to mitigate various diseases of the respiratory tract (cough, cold and bronchitis), liver and kidneys, to treat peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The active ingredient saponin glycyrrhizin is extracted from the dried roots, which has, among other things, sweetening properties that are 50 times stronger than those of other plants. sugar. The medicinal properties of this plant have been known for a long time. The ancient Greeks used it as early as the 4th century BC. In the rest of Europe, licorice began to be used from the 14th century. In its natural form, that is, using rhizomes directly, it is rarely used. Licorice is a common component of many medicinal preparations and collections of medicinal herbs. The crop is harvested in autumn, these are rhizomes of 3-4-year-old plants. If they are grown from parts of the rhizome, then the crop can be harvested as early as the 1st year. To prepare for use, the excavated rhizomes are washed and dried.