Star Anise (A cluster of follicles, reddish-brown, wrinkled, star-shaped, with bird-beak-like splits at the tips. The base of the fruit often detaches, seeds are shiny and aromatic.)

Spring Star Anise

【Naming】

Star Anise

n 【Source】n

Newly Revised Materia Medica‧Fennel

n 【Common Usage Level】n

C

n 【Botanical Origin】n

Dried, mature fruit of the Magnoliaceae family, Star Anise Illicium verum Hook. f.

n 【Characteristics】n

Typically composed of 8 (ranging from 5 to 13) follicles forming a clustered fruit, arranged in a star shape, attached to a common axis at the base, with a hook-shaped curved fruit stalk beneath the central axis. The follicles are small, boat-shaped, of varying lengths, 5-15mm long, 5-10mm high, and approximately 5mm wide, with a blunt, pointed, and straight tip, and a split upper edge. The outer surface of the pericarp is reddish-brown, mostly wrinkled, and the inner surface is light brown, smooth, and glossy, containing one seed. The seeds are flatly oval, 7mm long, 4mm wide, and 2mm thick; the seed coat surface is smooth, reddish-brown or grayish-brown, shiny, with a distinct concave hilum at one end, a distinct micropyle next to it, and a chalaza at the other end. A light-colored narrow seed ridge runs between the hilum and the chalaza. The seed coat is brittle, containing a white, oily kernel with a slightly sweet taste and a unique aroma.

n 【Processing】n

Sift to remove ash and dust, and pick out the fruit stalks and impurities.

n 【Identification】n

《Ben Cao Qiu Zhen》: “It seems that Ningxia Fennel should be used as the superior one.”n《Liang Lie Jian Bie》: “The ones rich in oil and with a strong aroma are the best.”nThe best ones are fragrant, large in shape, complete, reddish-red in color, oily, and have a strong aroma.

n 【Identification Terminology】n

1. Follicle (Modern Term): A fruit developed from a single carpel, which splits open along the dorsal suture or ventral suture when mature. It contains numerous seeds, and some are formed from several free carpels, called aggregated follicles.

n 【Category】n

Fruits