Illicium majus
Family: Schisandraceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 20 m tall. The leaves are in clusters of 3-6 in nodes towards the end of the branches. They are narrowly oval and 10-20 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. The flowers are in the axils of leaves or towards the ends of branches. The fruit have 10-14 follicles 1-3 cm long by 0.5-1.5 cm wide. The seeds are 6-10 mm long by 5-7 mm wide.
There are 34 Illicium species. There are 3 species in tropical America. Also put in the family Illiciaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in mixed forests and rocky slopes and along river banks between 300-2,500 m in southern China. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Indochina, Myanmar, SE Asia, Vietnam
How it is used for food
Caution: The fruit are listed as poisonous.
Edible parts
Fruit, caution
How it is grown
In southern China plants flower in April to June and fruit in July to October.
Its other names
Local names
Daihoi to