Glycyrrhiza lepidota in the spring which ripen in the fall to clusters of burs which contain pods of small bean-like seeds. It can be used as a pioneer species to revegetate bare or disturbed ground and is often the first species to invade a receding alkali flat. There is a market for American licorice root both for medicinal uses and flavoring; also the sweetening of tobacco products. 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
International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants that UPOV's focus on patents for plant varieties hurts farmers, in that it does not allow them to use saved seed or that of protected varieties. Countries with strong farmers' rights, such as India, cannot comply to all aspects of UPOV. François Meienberg is of this opinion, and writes that the UPOV system has disadvantages, especially for developing countries, and that "at some point, protection starts to thwart development". On the other hand, Rolf Jördens argues that plant variety protection is necessary. He believes that by joining UPOV, developing countries will have more access to new and improved varieties (better