This plant is mainly cultivated in Punjab and sub Himalayan tracts. Flowers are violet in colour.
Commercial licorice is dried underground stem and root.
The outer surface is pale chocolate brown in colour and internally the colour is yellow. It has a characteristic pleasant sweet taste. The roots are sweet, tonic, diuretic, expectorant, emetic, mild laxative, intellect promoting, It aids in altering affected metabolism or function of the body and also increases hair growth. Uses Licorice is useful in cough , bronchitis , fever, skin diseases and headaches. An extract of the root is good for treating gastric ulcers.