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 grows to 40–100 cm (16–39 in) tall, and has long tough brown roots which are said to be sweet and were used as food and for medicinal purposes by Native Americans.

Glycyrrhizin may increase blood pressure (aka hypertension) by interfering with cortisol conversion.

[9] It has light green to white flowers in the spring which ripen in the fall to clusters of burs which contain pods of small bean-like seeds.

There is a market for American licorice root both for medicinal uses and flavoring; also the sweetening of tobacco products.