Red burrs on a beautifully leafed plant. What is it?

[AnnettStudent]

Hey, you guys know what this plant is? I tried to find it but have been unsuccessful.

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[IdahoHerbalist]

OH OH OH OH :blob: :blob: Raises hand and WAVES FRANTICALLY!! :boggle: :boggle: PICK ME PICK ME!!!!

That is Licorice. I know of a couple of wild patches near my house. I also have some small ones growing in pots. :yahoo:

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Thank you so much! I’m super excited! Gonna go learn about licorice now. 😛

[IdahoHerbalist]

Michael Moore’s orange book has a lot of good info in it.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Glycyrrhiza lepidota. That’s our American licorice species. It’s not as “Licoricey” tasting as the Chinese stuff (G. glabra) but works the same medicinally. The vertical tap roots are better than the horizontal runners when you harvest.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Good to know. Thank you!

[Laura L. BergesonStudent]

This grows in our high mountain valley in the Forest Service recreation area. I haven’t seen it anyplace wild that I could harvest it without getting in big trouble from the govment. I’m wondering if it grows well from the burrs. I could pick some of those and plant them in my yard!

[IdahoHerbalist]

You would not want to do that unless the area you plant it in is QUITE isolated from the rest of the yard. By this I mean an underground barrier that is at least 3 feet deep. No seems or holes that the roots can find. You would even want to make sure it does not seed. It will take over your yard if you do not. We have friends that have had licorice take over a portion of their field. We are negotiating harvesting some!

Couldn’t you get “permission” to harvest some of it? Not that we should have to get permission to harvest off of OUR land. :face palm 2:

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Ok. I’ve been out this fall harvesting some licorice. But, it took a while to find a vertical taproot.

1) Are the nonvertical roots worth the effort medicinally?

2) Do you have any tips on finding the tap root in a licorice patch?

[IdahoHerbalist]

I have never harvested it. I am not sure I would make the extra effort to specifically get the vertical root.

We have a friend that has asked us to harvest as much licorice as we want at her house. If my knee ever gets better we will go over and do that.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Do you know how far down the tap root of licorice goes? There is a patch near my house but it is near a deep canal and the plants are a few feet away. I’m just wondering if they are far enough away that they’re growing without getting canal water.

[IdahoHerbalist]

They are likely getting canal water as the water is quite pervasive.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Darn!

Thanks:)

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Yeah, I’d find it in a wilder spot. At least you know what you’re looking for now. :0)

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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