Wild licorice Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun bedstraw with sweetish roots
    Galium lanceolatum.
  2. noun North American plant similar to true licorice and having a root with similar properties
    American licorice; American liquorice; wild liquorice; Glycyrrhiza lepidota.
  3. noun European perennial
    wild liquorice; Astragalus glycyphyllos.

WordNet

Definitions
  1. . (Bot.) (a) The North American perennial herb Glycyrrhiza lepidota. (b) Certain broad-leaved cleavers (Galium circæzans and G. lanceolatum). (c) The leguminous climber Abrus precatorius, whose scarlet and black seeds are called black-eyed Susans. Its roots are used as a substitute for those of true licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).
Definitions
  1. . (Bot.) See under Licorice.

Webster 1913