Species
Illicium anisatum
Common Name(s)
Japanese star anise, aniseed tree, sacred anise tree
Authority
Illicium anisatum L.
Family
Schisandraceae
Brief Description
Poisonous (cf, Chinese star anise, Illicium verum). Evergreen shrub or small tree to 5m tall. Leaves shiny dark green with undulate margins. Flowers with 7-15 separate tepals (petals + sepals), up to 20 stamens; ovary of 7-9 free carpels which mature as dry, star-shaped follicles.
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs
Synonyms
Illicium japonicum Sieb.
Illicium religiosum Sieb. et Zucc.
A Family Illiciaceae, containing Illicium, is sometimes separated from F. Schisandraceae.
Habitat
Seedlings self-establish near parent shrubs.
Similar Taxa
Some species of F. Magnoliaceae and F. Winteraceae resemble Illicium.
Flower Colours
White
Year Naturalised
2010
Origin
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan
Reason for Introduction
Ornamental; sometimes grown overseas for incense
Life Cycle and Dispersal
Shrubs can flower and seed in NZ gardens when barely 1 m tall
This page last updated on 20 Jan 2016