Glycyrrhiza lepidota Family: Fabaceae (A Utah Flora – Leguminosae) – Pea Family Perennial herbs; 1.3' to 3.9' (4 to 12 dm) tall Leaves: alternate; compound, pinnate; has hairs on underside of leaf; 3.2” to 7.6” (8 to 19 cm) long; 13 to 19 leaflets, leaflet 0.32” to 2.12” (8 to 53 mm) long, 0.12” to 0.6” (3 to 15 mm) wide Flowers: 5 white to cream petals (a banner, 2 wings and 2 keels – the keel shorter than the wings); 5 toothed sepals; 10 stamens; 1 pistil; flowers 0.36” to 0.52” (9.1 to 13 mm) long Pollinators: insects Fruits: legume Blooms in Arches National Park: May, June Habitat in Arches National Park: riparian areas, seeps, desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities Location seen: Delicate Arch Viewpoint Other: The genus name, “Glycyrrhiza”, is from the Greek “glykos” which means “sweet” and “rhiza” which means “root” referring to the sweet flavor of the roasted roots (commercial licorice comes from this genus). The species name, “lepidota”, means “scaly” referring to the brown scales of the leaves. This family is ranked second to grasses in importance to people because species can fix nitrogen. However, some species, e.g., locoweeds and milkvetches, are poisonous due to selenium abstracted from the soil. |
Last updated: November 11, 2022