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Illicium anisatum

Immature fruit on planted shrub; ‘Paloma’, Fordell, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 06/11/2010, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

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Common names

Japanese star anise, aniseed tree, sacred anise tree

Biostatus

Exotic

Conservation status

Not applicable

Structural class

Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons

Simplified 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.

Flower colours

White

Similar taxa

Some species of F. Magnoliaceae and F. Winteraceae resemble Illicium.

Habitat

Seedlings self-establish near parent shrubs.

Detailed taxonomy

Genus

Illicium

Family

Schisandraceae

Authority

Illicium anisatum L.

Synonyms

Illicium japonicum Sieb.
Illicium religiosum Sieb. et Zucc.A Family Illiciaceae, containing Illicium, is sometimes separated from F. Schisandraceae.

Ecology

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

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