'Licorice fern' definitions:

Definition of 'licorice fern'

noun

Fern having rootstock of a sweetish flavor [syn: licorice fern, Polypodium glycyrrhiza]

From: GCIDE

Licorice \Lic"o*rice\ (l[i^]k"[-o]*r[i^]s), n. [OE. licoris, through old French, fr. L. liquiritia, corrupted fr. glycyrrhiza, Gr. glyky`rriza; glyky`s sweet + "ri`za root. Cf. Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza, Wort.] [Written also liquorice.]
1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza ({Glycyrrhiza glabra}), the root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much used in demulcent compositions. [1913 Webster]
2. The inspissated juice of licorice root, used as a confection and for medicinal purposes. [1913 Webster]
Licorice fern (Bot.), a name of several kinds of polypody which have rootstocks of a sweetish flavor.
Licorice sugar. (Chem.) See Glycyrrhizin.
Licorice weed (Bot.), the tropical plant Scapania dulcis.
Mountain licorice (Bot.), a kind of clover ({Trifolium alpinum}), found in the Alps. It has large purplish flowers and a sweetish perennial rootstock.
Wild licorice. (Bot.) (a) The North American perennial herb {Glycyrrhiza lepidota}. (b) Certain broad-leaved cleavers (Galium circ[ae]zans and Galium 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). [1913 Webster]