Star anise (genus)

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Star anise
Fruits of real star anise (Illicium verum) as a spice

Fruits of real star anise ( Illicium verum ) as a spice

Systematics
Department : Vascular plants (tracheophyta)
Subdivision : Seed plants (Spermatophytina)
Class : Bedecktsamer (Magnoliopsida)
Order : Austrobaileyales
Family : Star anise family (Schisandraceae)
Genre : Star anise
Scientific name
Illicium
L.

Star anise ( Illicium ) is a genus in the star anise family (Schisandraceae). It includes 37 types of shrubs and trees that resemble magnolias with their flowers .

features

The leaves are occasionally arranged whorled at the branch end. The flowers are white, yellow, pink or red to brownish red. The tepals of the outer circle of petals are often reduced like bracts , those of the inner circle of petals are often significantly larger.

Japanese star anise ( Illicium anisatum )

Dark brown, leathery, woody fruits develop from the flowers of the star anise species.

distribution

Star anise species are native to the temperate to subtropical regions of East Asia and America .

All types contain an essential oil that is similar to that of anise and is of great importance as a spice; it consists largely of anethole .

Systematics

Florida star anise ( Illicium floridanum )
Real star anise ( Illicium verum )

There are 37 species in the genus. Here is a selection of species:

etymology

The name Illicium comes from Latin and means "attractant" (from illicere = to lure), which refers to the strong anise scent.

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Individual evidence

  1. a b c d e f g h i j k Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Illicium. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Accessed May 31, 2018.
  2. List of species at GRIN
  3. a b c Entry in GRIN Taxonomy for Plants.
  4. Helmut Genaust: Etymological dictionary of botanical plant names. 3rd, completely revised and expanded edition. Birkhäuser, Basel / Boston / Berlin 1996, ISBN 3-7643-2390-6 .

Web links

Commons : Illicium  - collection of images, videos and audio files