Illicium floridanum J. Ellis

Florida Anise Tree; Florida Star Anise; Anise Stinkbush

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Florida Anise Tree is a native evergreen shrub or small tree in the Starvine family (Schisandraceae). It is native to the southern two thirds of Alabama. Florida Anise Tree is found in thickets along streams and in moist woods. It is a multi-trunked shrub or small tree reaching 15 feet in height. The stems have thin, smooth, glabrous, brownish gray bark. The leaves are petiolate, alternate (sometimes appearing whorled at branch tips), elliptic to lanceolate in outline, thick and leathery in texture, and glabrous. The leaves have a distinct “anise” odor when crushed. Flowers are solitary on recurved peduncles. Each flower has 21-33 strap shaped maroon-red tepals, 25-50 stamens, and 11-21 postils. The fruit is a star shaped woody aggregate of follicles. The seed are dispersed by explosive dehiscence. Florida Anise Tree is sometimes cultivated. Plants can be grown from seed, cuttings, or divisions. It prefers a moist, organic rich soil and partial shade. White and pink flowered forms, and plants with variegated foliage are also available. This is not the species that gives us the edible culinary anise. Do not use Florida anise as a spice – it is poisonous if ingested.—A. Diamond.

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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