Periandra mediterranea
(Vell.) Taub.
Fabaceae
Glycyrrhiza mediterranea Vell.
Periandra angulata Benth.
Periandra angustifolia Benth.
Periandra dulcis Mart. ex Benth.
Periandra mucronata Benth.
Periandra racemosa Benth.
Common Name: Brazilian Liquorice
General Information
Periandra mediterranea is an evergreen shrub growing about 3 metres tall[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
].
The sweet-flavoured root is gathered from the wild for local medicinal use[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
]. A very ornamental plant, it is worthy of being grown in gardens[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
].
Periandra mediterranea has a wide area of distribution, is known to occur within the protected areas network, and is not considered to be threatened. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - Brazil, Bolivia.
Habitat
Found in a range of habitats including cerrado, brejo, mata vegetation, rocky slopes, grassland and low woodland; at elevations up to 800 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 2.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from 600 - 1,500 metres or more.
Edible Uses
The roots are used as a substitute for liquorice (Glycorrhiza spp.)[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. A sweet flavour, it can be used as a flavouring, made into sweetmeats or a herbal tea[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The root is considered in Brazil to be an excellent alternative to the true liquorice, Glycyrrhiza spp. It is considered to be antiinflammatory, expectorant, resolvent[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
]. It is used in the treatment of pulmonary complaints, diseases of the urinary system, inflammations of the womb[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
].
Research has shown that the plant is a potent antiinflammatory, with little adverse effect compared to true liquorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.). It is expected to be an effective remedy for inflammatory diseases including multiple sclerosis. The active ingredients responsible for this activity have not been demonstrated yet, but are likely to include saponins such as periandrdulcin A, B and C, plus periandrins[
470- Title
- Antiinflammatory Activities of Brazilian Licorice (Periandra mediterranea) Extract. Journal Traditional Medicine 21.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Miyagawa N.: Inami Y.: Nakayama T.: Inuma M.: Inagaki N.
- Publisher
- Journal of Traditional Medicine
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the medicinal uses of Periandra mediterranea.
].
Other Uses
Although small, the wood is sometimes used for making doors[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
