STARRY ANISE. 79 
‘The bark and leaves of the Illicium Florida- 
num are strongly impregnated with a. spicy, 
aromatic taste and smell, approaching that of the 
Magnolias and Liriodendron, but perhaps more 
similar to that of some of the pungent seeds, 
particularly Anise and Coriander, between which 
they seem intermediate. This aroma is preserved 
in the distilled water, and fills the room with its 
fragrance, while distillation is going on. I was 
not able in my limited experiments to separate 
any volatile oil or camphor, on one of which 
principles, as in similar cases, the aroma doubtless 
i 
An account of this species of Mlicium is 
given, with a figure, in the Philosophical trans- 
actions for 1770, by John Ellis, Esq. He says, 
“We are indebted for the discovery of this 
curious American tree to a servant of William 
Clifton, Esq. of West Florida, who was sent to 
collect specimens of all the rarer plants by, his 
master ; and in April 1765, he met with it growing 
ina swamp near Pensacola. After this, in the 
latter end of January 1766, Mr, John Ba 
the king’s botanist for the Floridas, discoyered. it 
on the banks of the river St. John, in Kast Florida, 
as appears from his deseri iption ¢ of it, and a draw- 
ing of a seed-yessel with some of the leayes, sent 
