ABSTRACT
IN the plant kingdom, the Leguminosae family occupies an economically important position. Traditionally, the family has been divided into three subfamilies, Fabaceae, Fabales and Faboideae. Licorice (liquorice) is the name applied to the roots and stolons of some Glycyrrhiza species, which belong to Fabaceae. It is collected in spring and autumn, sliced after the removal of residual stem and rootlets, dried in the sun and used as such without further processing or stir-baked with honey. Figure 11.1 shows the leaves, flowers, fruits and root of this plant. Licorice was known to many ancient civilizations. The belt where it is found or cultivated runs roughly between the 30th and 45th parallels of north latitude and passes through Spain, Italy, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran and China. However, relatively small amounts also grow in South Africa. In addition, it also grows in Australia (New South Wales) and in New Zealand. Neither South nor Central America seem to cultivate licorice. However, there are scattered patches of wild licorice growing in several places in the United States (Huseman, 1944).
