177 
GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA. 
Common Liquorice.''^ 
Class DiADELPHiA. —OrJer Decandria. 
Nat. Ord. Papilionace^, Linn. Leguminos^, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Calyx bilabiate, upper lip three-cleft, lower lip 
tindivided. Legume ovate, compressed. 
Spec. Char. Legume smooth. Stipules none. Leajlets pe- 
tioled. 
The Liquorice plant is a native of the south of Europe, and 
Syria. According to Dr. Fleming's catalogue of Indian plants, it 
grows in the Bengal provinres j and Dr. Ainslie says, " we know that 
it is a product of the Malabar coast, where it is called Irattimad-* 
hiram ; but 1 am much inclined to think that a great deal of the liquorice 
root which is met with in the bazaars of Lower India, is imported 
from Persia.t The root of the wild Jamaica liquorice (Abrus Pre- 
eatorius, Linn.) greatly resembles the true liquorice, both in its 
appearance and sensible qualities, so that it is often sold for it and 
used as such in India." It appears to have been cultivated in Britain 
about the middle of the sixteenth century,! since which time it has 
been propagated in considerable quantities for medicinal and other 
purposes. The principal places where it was formerly most exten- 
sively cultivated, are Godalming in Surry, Pontefract in Yorkshire, 
and Worksop in Nottinghamshire ; but it is now grown by many 
gardeners in the vicinity of the metropolis, and the London markets 
are chiefly supplied from Mitcham, in Surry. The roots are dug 
up for use after three years' growth ; and are equal in every respect 
to those produced in their native climate. After washing the roots, 
the fibres are cut off, and the larger roots separated from the smaller ; 
the latter, termed the oflfal, is dried and ground to powder ; the 
former are packed for the markets. 
* Fig. 1, 2, and 3,|the petals, a. The caljx. h. The stamens, c. The pistilldnu 
f Mat. Med. vol. i. p. 200. 
+ Tarn. Herb, part 2, fol. 12, pub. in 1562. 
