ILLICIUM 247 



and thick-walled stone cells (astroclerotic cells), which are about 

 0.220 mm. in length and 0.145 mm. in thickness. 



Powder. Dark reddish-brown; palisade-like stone cells from 

 0.3 to 0.6 mm. in length and from 0.020 to 0.050 mm. in width; 

 isodiametric stone cells and irregularly branching forms (astro- 

 stone cells) having thick lignified walls and branching pores; frag- 

 ments of sclerenchymatous fibers with more or less irregularly thick- 

 ened walls and simple pores; outer epidermal cells with striated 

 cuticle; aleurone grains from 0.010 to 0.020 mm. in diameter, usually 

 containing a number of globoids and a large cystolith-like crystalloid. 

 The poisonous shikimmi fruit is distinguished by somewhat shorter 

 palisade cells; somewhat rounded stone cells; the aleurone grains 

 contain 2 or 3 globoids and a few large prismatic crystalloids; alco- 

 holic solutions yield an oil with a disagreeable odor, and furthermore 

 deposits upon evaporation numerous crystals of shikimminic acid. 

 For illustration of stone cells consult Kraemer's Applied and Eco- 

 nomic Botany, page 268. 



Constituents. True Illicium yields a volatile oil consisting 

 chiefly of anethol and small quantities of phellandrene, pinene, 

 methyl chavicol, hydroquinone-ethyl-ether, and probably safrol. 

 The pericarp yields from 5.3 to 5.65 per cent of volatile oil, while 

 the seed yields only 1.7 to 2.7 per cent; the seed also contains 22.3 

 per cent of a fixed oil and 2.6 per cent of a reddish-brown resin. 

 The latter exists to the extent of 10 per cent in the pericarp. The 

 drug also contains anisic acid, protocatechuic acid and shikimminic 

 acid. 



Adulterants. The fruits of Illicium religiosum (also known as 

 I. japonicum and I. anisatum L.) are very poisonous and are obtained 

 from trees which are extensively cultivated in Japan, especially in 

 groves of Buddhist temples. The fruits are known in commerce as 

 Japanese Star Anise, Shikimmi fruits or Skimmi fruits. They are 

 readily distinguished by their odor, which is very different from anise 

 and more nearly resembles that of such oils as cajuput, cardamom, 

 sassafras or laurel. The taste is intensely pungent, becoming aro- 

 matic, somewhat bitter and camphor-like. The carpels, of which 

 there are usually 6 to 8, are mostly of uniform size, being somewhat 

 smaller than true Illicium, the summit being acuminate and ter- 

 minated by a short curved beak. The seeds are less compressed 

 and are of a light yellowish-brown color. Among the anatomical 

 characters which serve to distinguish Japanese star anise the follow- 

 ing may be mentioned: (1) The absence of irregularly branching 

 stone cells, the latter being usually circular in section and only 



