Liquorice
Perennial legume forming large stands on plains and riverbanks; its pale violet racemes give moderate nectar in early summer.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,5-1,5 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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With its deep, spreading roots, liquorice forms large stands in lowland fields and along streams and canals. Its pale violet-blue pea flowers open in dense racemes; honey bees visit them for nectar. Nectar secretion is moderate and increases on warm, moist soil. Its pollen contribution is low.
Flowering
From June to July, lasting about 3-4 weeks. It is common on the plains and along the streams of south-eastern, central and western Anatolia.
Honey and pollen
No commercial liquorice honey is known in Turkey; it goes into mixed summer honey. There are records of honey being taken from liquorice stands in Central Asia, but reliable figures on yield are scarce.
Note for the beekeeper
Although it is pulled up as a weed along field edges, it supports the early-summer flow in lowland apiaries where it is abundant. There is no information that the substance responsible for the sweetness of the root passes into honey.