Illicium anisatum

Shikimi
Japanese Star Anise
Japanese star anise
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Austrobaileyales
Family: Schisandraceae
Genus: Illicium
Species:
I. anisatum
Binomial name
Illicium anisatum
Synonyms

Illicium anisatum, with common names Japanese star anise,[1] Aniseed tree,[1] and sacred Anise tree,[1] known in Japanese as shikimi (樒, シキミ), is an evergreen shrub or small tree closely related to the Chinese star anise (Illicium verum). Since it is highly toxic, the fruit is not edible; instead, the dried and powdered leaves are burned as incense in Japan. Its branches and evergreen leaves are considered highly sacred by Japanese Buddhists[2] due to insects' aversion to them and their ability to remain fresh after pruning.

The sacred anise tree is native to parts of east Asia including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.[3][4] It normally grows between 6 and 15 feet tall with leaves that are simple, arranged alternately and oval in shape and about 1 to 3 inches in length.[3] Its cream or white colored flowers have numerous petals and are clustered around the leaf axils. Its fruit is a dry follicle similar to the Chinese star anise, but toxic, smaller and with a weaker odour, reputed to be more similar to the aroma of cardamom than to that of anise.

Due to its poisonous nature, its seeds have been used as a fish poison as well as a natural agricultural pesticide and to repel animals from digging the grounds of Japanese graveyards.[5] Its seeds have also been used medicinally to treat toothache and dermatitis topically, since it is unsuitable for internal use.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d "Taxonomy - GRIN-Global Web v 1.10.2.8". npgsweb.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  2. ^ Simpson, Michael (2010). Plant Systematics. Elsevier. pp. 189. ISBN 978-0-12-374380-0.
  3. ^ a b "Illicium anisatum (Japanese Anise Tree, Star Anise) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  4. ^ "Illicium anisatum L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  5. ^ a b Small, Ernest (1996). "Confusion of Common Names for Toxic and Edible "Star Anise" (Illicium) Species". Economic Botany. 50 (3): 337–339. JSTOR 4255854.