Glycyrrhiza lepidota Glycyrrhiza lepidota Glycyrrhiza lepidota (American licorice) is a species of "Glycyrrhiza" (a genus in the pea/bean family, Fabaceae) native to most of North America, from central Canada south through the United States to California, Texas and Virginia, but absent from the southeastern states. It is also sometimes known in the United States as "wild licorice", to distinguish it from the related European liquorice ("Glycyrrhiza glabra") which is occasionally cultivated. The plant grows in moist soils; although it will grow in heavy soil it prefers sandy soil. It grows to tall, and has long tough brown roots which are said to
Schisandra glabra more. Leaves are elliptic to cordate (heart-shaped), up to 13 cm (5.2 inches) long. The plant is monoecious, with staminate (male, pollen-producing) and pistillate (female, seed-producing) flowers separate on the same plant. Sepals are whitish, petals pink or red. Berries are red, spherical to ellipsoid, up to 15 mm (0.6 inches) long. It can be found in wooded bluffs, hillsides and ravines at elevations less than 500 m (1650 feet). Some sources spell the name "Schizandra", while others use the now-rejected name "Stellandria". "Schisandra" is the accepted spelling. Schisandra glabra Schisandra glabra, the bay star-vine, is the only American species