Japanese star anise, Chinese anise, Anise shrub
Illicium anisatum

Family: Schisandraceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It is cone shaped. It grows 3-8 m high. The flowers are star shaped. They are greenish-yellow. The fruit are about 2-3 cm across. They are woody and star shaped.

There are 40 Illicium species. There are 3 species in tropical America. Also put in the family Illiciaceae. There is only one genus in the Illiciaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It needs a moist well-drained soil. It suits hardiness zones 7-11. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Geelong Botanical Gardens. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Japan (country/location of origin), Korea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tasmania

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The fruit are poisonous. The alkaloids are concentrated in the seeds. These include sikimitoxin or anisatin. The oil is poisonous. Small quantities of fruit are used in flavouring. They are used to flavour coffee and tea.

Edible parts

Spice, fruit, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Plants can also be grown by cuttings or layering.

It is quite slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Bunga lawang jepang, Shikimi, Sikimi noki

Synonyms

Illicium religiosum Sieb. & Zucc.;