Illicium is a genus of approximately 40 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Schisandraceae (order Austrobaileyales), though some classifications treat it as the sole genus of a separate family, Illiciaceae. The genus has a strikingly disjunct distribution: the majority of species occur in subtropical and tropical regions of East and Southeast Asia, while a handful are native to the southeastern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Common names include star anise and anisetree.
Plants in this genus share a distinctive set of morphological traits. The leaves are alternately arranged on petioles, with blades that are glandular and aromatic. Flowers are solitary and bear few to many tepals arranged in two or three rows — the inner tepals resemble petals while the outer ones are often smaller and bract-like. The center of the flower holds few to many stamens and pistils. The fruit is a highly recognizable aggregate of follicles arranged in a star-shaped whorl, each follicle containing one seed with a thick, oily endosperm that is released when the follicle splits open.
The most economically important member is Illicium verum, the common star anise, whose dried fruits are a key spice in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines and a principal flavoring in certain liquors. Its fruit has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine under the name bājiǎo huíxiāng (八角茴香). The essential oils of several species serve as flavorings and carminatives, though the oils of I. anisatum and I. floridanum are toxic. Several species are also valued as ornamental plants for their flowers, foliage, and fragrance, with many cultivars established; a number of taxa are particularly suited to low-light garden settings.
Etymology
The genus name Illicium derives from the Latin illicere, meaning "to allure" or "to entice" — a reference to the plant's distinctive, attractive fragrance.
Distribution
Illicium has a disjunct distribution spanning two major regions: the bulk of species are native to subtropical and tropical East and Southeast Asia, while a smaller group occurs in the southeastern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Cultural Uses
Illicium verum (star anise) is the most economically significant species; its star-shaped fruit pods are a staple spice in Chinese and Southeast Asian cooking and a key flavoring in spirits such as pastis and sambuca. The fruit has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as bājiǎo huíxiāng (八角茴香) to treat abdominal pain and vomiting. The essential oils of several species serve as flavorings and carminatives, though the oils of I. anisatum (Japanese star anise) and I. floridanum (Florida anisetree) are toxic and not suitable for consumption.
Cultivation
Several Illicium species are grown as ornamental garden shrubs for their aromatic foliage, fragrant flowers, and attractive star-shaped fruit. Many taxa perform well in low-light or part-shade conditions, making them useful in woodland or understory garden settings. Cultivation has led to the development of a range of cultivars.
Taxonomy Notes
Illicium is placed in the family Schisandraceae (order Austrobaileyales), though it has historically been segregated into its own family Illiciaceae. Austrobaileyales is one of the earliest-diverging lineages of flowering plants, making Illicium of particular interest to botanists studying angiosperm evolution. GBIF recognizes approximately 40 descendants at species rank.
