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Illicium (From illicio to entice)

(from illicio, to entice or allure; on account of the agreeable aromatic smell of the species). Aniseed-tree. ORD. Magnoliaceae. A genus comprising five species of half-hardy evergreen shrubs. Flowers very beautiful and fragrant, singly or in threes from the sides of the branches; petals nine to thirty, disposed in several series. Carpels stellately-disposed, capsular, opening on the upper side. Leaves oblong, stalked, coriaceous, exhaling a strong odour of Aniseed. The species thrive in a compost of sandy loam and peat, and need greenhouse protection during winter, except in the southern counties. Propagated, during summer, by cuttings of young ripened shoots, inserted in sandy soil, under a hand glass.

I. anisatum (Anise-scented).* fl. yellowish-white, small, disposed in terminal clusters. Summer. l. entire, smooth. h. 4ft. China and Japan. This tree is held sacred by the Japanese, who form wreaths of it with which to decorate the tombs of their deceased friends; they also burn the bark as incense before their deities. The leaves are reported to possess poisonous properties. SYN. I. religiosum. (B. M. 3965.) I. floridanum (Floridan).* fl. of a fine deep red, having the appearance of being double; petals twenty to thirty; peduncles hanging down, but becoming erect as the petals drop. April to July. l. oblong-lanceolate, acuminate. h. 8ft. Florida, 1771. (B. M. 439.) I. parviflorum (small-flowered). fl. scentless; petals yellowish, six to twelve, ovate-roundish; sepals three, ovate, somewhat ciliated. May and June. l. lanceolate, acute, scented. h. 3ft. Southern United States, 1790. I. religiosum (holy). Synonymous with I. anisatum.