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, flowersare solitary, 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 Anise is one of the signature flavours of Chinese savory cooking. The five‐spice powder mix common in China contains star anise. It is used to flavour vegetables, meat, and to marinate meat. It is used as a condiment for flavouring curries, confectionaries, spirits, and pickling. It is also used in perfumery. The essential oil of star anise is used to flavour soft drinks, bakery products and liquors. The fruit is  anti‐bacterial, carminative, diuretic and stomachic. It is considered useful in flatulence and spasmodic.