ILLICIUM 507 



The friiifc of Pimpinella Anisum Linne (nat. ord. Umbel- 

 liferse) . 



Habitat — Southeastern Europe, Egypt, "Western Asia; 

 also cultivated. 



Description. — About 4 or 5 Mm. long, ovate, compressed 

 at the sides ; grayish, finely hairy, and consisting of two 

 mericarps, each with a flat face and five light brownish, fili- 

 form ridges, and about fifteen thin oil tubes, which can be 

 seen in a transverse section by the microscope. It has an 

 agreeable, aromatic odor, and a sweet, spicy taste. It may 

 be distinguished from conium fruit by the odor Jind taste, 

 while the latter has usually single mericarps which are 

 smooth, grooved upon the face, and have crenate ridges with 

 wrinkles between them, and no oil tubes. 



Constituents. — Oil of anise. 



Dose.—R. <fe C, I i.-ii. (30.-60.) ; Sh. & Sw., 3 ii.-iii. 

 (8.-12.) ; D., gr.x.-xxx. (.6-2.). 



Illicium. Ulicium. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Anisi stellati fructus, B.P.; star anise. 



The fruit of illicium verum Hooker filius (nat. ord. 

 Magnoliaceae). 



Habitat — North An am. 



Description. — The fruit is pedunculate and consists of 

 eight stellately arranged carpels, which are boat-shaped, 

 about 10 Mm. long, rather woody, wrinkled, straight-beaked, 

 brown, dehiscent on the upper suture, internally reddish- 

 brown, glossy, and containing a single, flattish, oval, glossy, 

 brownish-yellow seed ; odor anise-like, taste of the carpels 

 sweet and aromatic, and of the seeds oily. Similar to the 

 poisonous fruit of Illicium anisatum Linne (Illicium religi- 

 osum Siebold), the capsules of which are more woody, 

 shrivelled, and have a thin, mostly curved beak ; a faint, 

 clove-like odor, and an unpleasant taste. 



Constituents. — Oil of anise. 



Dose. — Same as that for anise. 



