What is Liquorice?
{{Taxobox | name = Liquorice | image = Illustration Glycyrrhiza glabra0.jpg | image_width = 240px | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Fabales]] | familia = [[Fabaceae]] | subfamilia = [[Faboideae]] | tribus = [[Galegeae]] | genus = ''[[Glycyrrhiza]]'' | species = '''''G. glabra''''' | binomial = ''Glycyrrhiza glabra'' | binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] |synonyms = *''Glycyrrhiza glandulifera'' [[Franz de Paula Adam von Waldstein|Waldst.]] & [[Pál Kitaibel|Kit.]] *''Glycyrrhiza glabra'' var. ''glandulifera'' }} [[File:Glycyrrhiza echinata MHNT.BOT.2011.3.43.jpg|thumb|''Glycyrrhiza glabra'']] '''Liquorice''' (UK) or '''licorice''' (US) (see [[American and British English spelling differences|spelling differences]]) ({{IPAEng|ˈlɪkərɪʃ, ˈlɪkərɪs, ˈlɪkrɪʃ}}, or {{IPA|/ˈlɪkrɪs/}}) is the root of ''Glycyrrhiza glabra'', from which a sweet flavour can be extracted. The liquorice plant is a [[legume]] (related to [[Bean|beans]] and [[pea]]s) and native to [[southern Europe]] and parts of [[Asia]]. It is an [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant|perennial]], growing to 1 m in height, with [[pinnate]] [[leaf|leaves]] about 7–15 centimetres (3–6 [[inch]]es) long, with 9–17 leaflets. The [[flower]]s are 0.8–1.2&nbsp;cm (1/3 to 1/2 inch) long, purple to pale whitish blue, produced in a loose [[inflorescence]]. The [[fruit]] is an oblong [[legume|pod]], 2–3 centimetres (about 1 inch) long, containing several [[seed]]s. {{Herbs & spices}} [[Category:Faboideae]] [[Category:Spices]] {{Biology-stub}}