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Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

On the map in 2 countries perennial

Liquorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Family: Fabaceae

On our map this plant appears in 2 countries and ranks highest in: Iraq, Turkmenistan.

Liquorice is a perennial of the legume family growing 1–1.5 m tall, with pinnate leaves and purplish-blue flowers in clusters. Its long, branching roots and runners contain glycyrrhizin – a compound dozens of times sweeter than sugar. It grows on fertile, moist soils in river valleys and often appears in huge numbers in fields. The root is used in medicine and confectionery and to flavour tobacco and drinks.

Description from: Iraq.

More: Wikipedia (en) Wikipedia (pl) Plants of the World Online (Kew)

Significance in each country

  1. Iraq no. 5 of 8 native

    Wild liquorice has long been gathered on the plains of Mesopotamia, and Iraq was once a significant exporter of the root. The drink irk sus, enjoyed especially after sunset during Ramadan, is a street tradition in Baghdad and Mosul.

  2. Turkmenistan no. 8 of 8 native

    The wild liquorice thickets in Turkmenistan’s river valleys have been harvested on an industrial scale since Soviet times – dried root and liquorice extract go mainly for export.