Japanese Star Anise

Illicium anisatum, the Japanese star anise or sacred anise tree, known in Japan as shikimi, is an evergreen shrub or small tree closely related to Chinese star anise, Illicium verum. It is native to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, normally 1.8 to 4.6 metres tall, with cream or white flowers and a dry follicle fruit like Chinese star anise but smaller, weaker-smelling and toxic. Because it is highly toxic the fruit is not eaten; instead the dried, powdered leaves are burned as incense in Japan. Japanese Buddhists consider its branches and evergreen leaves highly sacred, because insects avoid them and they stay fresh after pruning. The seeds have been used as a fish poison and a pesticide, and to keep animals from digging in Japanese graveyards, and topically for toothache and dermatitis. Only botanical microscopy can distinguish it from Chinese star anise.