Licorice Facts
Licorice Facts
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| Interesting Licorice Facts: |
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| Licorice grows in the form of shrub. It has woody, hairy, upright stem that can reach 3 to 4 feet in height. |
| Licorice has strong root system that consists of taproot, numerous lateral branches and stolons (runners). Root is brown on the outside and yellow on the inside. |
| Licorice has pinnate leaves composed of 9 to 17 narrow lanceolate leaflets. Leaves are green colored and covered with sticky glands on the surface. |
| Licorice produces light blue or lilac flowers arranged in the loose clusters composed of 10 or more individual flowers. Flowers grow from the axils of leaves. |
| Licorice produces bisexual flowers (they contain both types of reproductive organs) that bloom from June to July. They attract insects, main pollinators of this plant. |
| Fruit of licorice is red or brown-colored oblong pod filled with 2 to 5 dark seed. |
| Root of licorice contains glycyrrhizin, a compound that is 50 times sweeter than sugar. |
| Root of licorice is used in the food industry for the production of candies, chewing gums and various liqueurs. Licorice is also popular and often consumed in the form of tea. |
| Licorice is used as flavoring agent of tobacco and various types of beer and brandy. |
| Thanks to foaming properties of this plant, root of licorice is used in the manufacture of foam for the fire extinguishers. |
| Napoleon Bonaparte was big fan of licorice. Unfortunately, due to intense chewing of licorice, his teeth became black. |
| Licorice was used for the preparation of healing tonic in the Ancient Egypt. This beverage was popular among Egyptian rulers. Famous pharaoh Tutankhamen was buried with large quantities of licorice. |
| Licorice is popular as medicine worldwide. It can be used in treatment of respiratory tract disorders, cough, mouth and gastric ulcers, indigestion, headache and neurodegenerative disorders. Some medical studies indicate that licorice may be beneficial in treatment of certain types of cancer. Creams made of licorice can be used for the removal of the freckles and other discolorations on the skin. |
| Large quantities of licorice may induce side effects such as edema, hypertension and hypokalemia. |
| Licorice is perennial plant which means that it can survive more than 2 years in the wild. |
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