"In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks."
― John Muir
American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)
This native perennial forb is a member of the pea(legume) family. It prefers moist sandy soils and is present throughout most of North America. This plant grows to one metre tall. The flowers appear in July and August and produce seeds in August and September. Its roots can grow to 12 feet in length. The roots of this plant have been utilized for soil stabilization It grows un many types of ecosystems but is often existing in grasslands associated with other flowering plants
First Nations people used this plant for its medicinal properties and its roots were eaten as a food
All legume plants have an amazing ability to fix nitrogen due to a special symbiotic relationship these plants have with bacteria in nodules on its roots. Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for plants and plant growth. "Nitrogen fixing plants are a vital component of building soil fertility. Excess nitrogen is built up in the legume's tissues. When leaves fall, roots die, or gardeners prune back leaves (and drop them on the ground to decompose) the excess nitrogen is released back into the soil. This excess nitrogen is picked up by the other plants in the area and utilized for their own growth."(1) So American Licorice plays an important role in improving the fertility of the soil.
American Licorice is food for grasshoppers and butterflies. Small mammals such as pocket gophers eat its roots. Upland game birds, waterfowl, small non gamebirds , elk and deer all eat it as well. The Xerces Society for the Invertebrate Conservation recognize this plant as having special value to native bees and is also noted for attracting beneficial insects.(2 ) This means it attracts predatory or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects. Therefore the American liquorice helps controls pest insects preventing damage to host plants.
Appreciating the vital role this plant has for stabilizing and enriching the soil, helps us to know why we should preserve it. We need to value this plant for its ability to sustain insect populations that provide biological control of pest insects. Understanding its importance to wildlife and pollinators, is critical to knowing how this plant prevents extinctions and protects biodiversity.
(1)http://tcpermaculture.blogspot.ca/2011/05/plants-nitrogen-fixers.html
(2)http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GLLE3
― John Muir
American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)
This native perennial forb is a member of the pea(legume) family. It prefers moist sandy soils and is present throughout most of North America. This plant grows to one metre tall. The flowers appear in July and August and produce seeds in August and September. Its roots can grow to 12 feet in length. The roots of this plant have been utilized for soil stabilization It grows un many types of ecosystems but is often existing in grasslands associated with other flowering plants
First Nations people used this plant for its medicinal properties and its roots were eaten as a food
All legume plants have an amazing ability to fix nitrogen due to a special symbiotic relationship these plants have with bacteria in nodules on its roots. Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for plants and plant growth. "Nitrogen fixing plants are a vital component of building soil fertility. Excess nitrogen is built up in the legume's tissues. When leaves fall, roots die, or gardeners prune back leaves (and drop them on the ground to decompose) the excess nitrogen is released back into the soil. This excess nitrogen is picked up by the other plants in the area and utilized for their own growth."(1) So American Licorice plays an important role in improving the fertility of the soil.
American Licorice is food for grasshoppers and butterflies. Small mammals such as pocket gophers eat its roots. Upland game birds, waterfowl, small non gamebirds , elk and deer all eat it as well. The Xerces Society for the Invertebrate Conservation recognize this plant as having special value to native bees and is also noted for attracting beneficial insects.(2 ) This means it attracts predatory or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects. Therefore the American liquorice helps controls pest insects preventing damage to host plants.
Appreciating the vital role this plant has for stabilizing and enriching the soil, helps us to know why we should preserve it. We need to value this plant for its ability to sustain insect populations that provide biological control of pest insects. Understanding its importance to wildlife and pollinators, is critical to knowing how this plant prevents extinctions and protects biodiversity.
(1)http://tcpermaculture.blogspot.ca/2011/05/plants-nitrogen-fixers.html
(2)http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GLLE3
