Star anise
Appearance
Star anise | |
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Star anise fruits (Illicium verum) | |
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Illicium verum |
Star anise(Illicium verum) is aspiceplant which tastes likeanise.The star shaped fruits are harvested before they start ripening.
Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), a similar tree, is not edible because it is "highly toxic"; instead, it may be burned asincenseinJapan.
Use as medicine
[change|change source]Star anise has been used in a tea, and theseedsare sometimes chewed after meals for digestion.
Star anise is grown in four places inChinaand harvested betweenMarchandMay.It is also found in thesouthofNew South Wales.