Star Anise is the dried, star-shaped fruit of Illiciumverum. It is an evergreen tree attaining a height of 8-15 meters and a diameter of 25cm. The leaves are entire, 10-15 cm long, 2.5- 5 cm broad, elliptic, owersaresolitary, white to red in color. Fruits are star-shaped, reddish-brown consisting of 6-8 carpels arranged in a whorl. Each carpel is 10 mm long, boat-shaped, hard and wrinkled containing a seed. Seeds are brown, compressed, ovoid, smooth, shiny and brittle.

Star an iseisindigeno us to Southeastern China. Commercial production is limited to China and Vietnam. India, it is produced to a small extent in Arunachal Pradesh. The crop requires specific agro-climatic conditions available only in the traditional growing areas, which has prevented repeated attempts of other countries to grow star anise. However, it prefers woodlands, sunny edges, and dappled shade. The plant grows well in humus-rich, mildly acidic to neutral soils, which are light to medium and have good drainage. It tolerates temperatures down toâ??10 degrees C.

Star Anise is one of the signature avours of Chinese savory cooking. The five spice powder mix common in China contains star anise. It is used to favor vegetables, meat, and to marinate meat. It is used as a condiment for avouring curries, confectionaries, spirits, and pickling. It is also used in perfumery. The essential oil of star anise is used to avour soft drinks, bakery products and liquors. Thefruitisanti bacterial, carminative, diuretic and stomachic. It is considered useful in �atulence and spasmodic.