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Photographer: Derek Anderson
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Family Fabaceae
Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh
American licorice, wild licorice
Glycyrrhiza: from Greek glykys, "sweet," and rhiza, "a root," and referring to the root of G. glabra which is the source of commercial licorice
lepidota: having small scurfy scales
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| Status: | Special Concern |
| Plant: | perennial, up to 40" tall forb, younger parts and bottom of leaflets covered with dot-like glands; clone forming, creeping roots |
| Flower: | pale yellow to bluish, 5-parted, 1/2" long; inflorescence a dense, conical-shaped cluster (raceme) of stalked flowers, clusters near or below the upper leaves; blooms May-June |
| Fruit: | brown, 1/2" pod with hooked prickles  |
| Leaf: | pinnately-divided into an odd number of leaflets (11-19) |
| Habitat: | moist; prairies and along railroads |
| (Glossary) |
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