18 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



paneling at the upper end and bearing 2 anthers. Carpels 3, 

 with ovules indefinite in two series. Seeds with red arils. 

 Habitat. — In the vicinity of Manila. Blooms in July. 



MAGNOLIACEiE. 



Magnolia Family. 

 Illicium anisatum, L. 



Nom. Yulg. — Anis estrellado, Badiana, Sp.; Sagki, Tag. ; 

 Star Anise, Eng. 



Uses. — Although this plant does not grow in the Philippines, 

 the use of its fruit is so common there that it demands a place 

 in this work. It is employed chiefly as a condiment in the 

 preparation of food, and its essential oil is used to prepare the 

 native " anise cordial " by mixing it with alcohol obtained 

 from the palm or from sugar cane. 



The decoction of the fruit is given after meals as a tea-like 

 beverage, to aid digestion or for its carminative effect in flatu- 

 lent colic. 



Star anise has an aromatic taste, slightly bitter and acrid, and 

 a very marked perfume of anise which with its star-like form 

 gives the plant one of its names. It is a very useful stimulant, 

 tonic, stomachic and carminative. 



It is official in all Pharmacopoeias and the pericarp is the 

 part employed. 



The dose is from 1 to 2 grams to 100 of water in infusion, 

 to be taken in one draught. 



According to Schlegel it contains the following substances : 

 An essential oil 4.675 ; a green waxy material which melts at 

 51°, a resin, a gum and saponin. The essential oil is (almost) 

 identical with that of anise from which it is impossible to dis- 

 tinguish it chemically. The only difference is that the former 

 has a blander odor and solidifies at 1°.25 instead of 10°, as 

 does the oil of anise. 



