genus Illicium, Illicium - anise trees: evergreen trees with aromatic leaves

Illicium floridanum, purple anise - small shrubby tree with purple flowers; found in wet soils of southeastern United States

Illicium anisatum, star anise - small shrubby tree of Japan and Taiwan; flowers are not fragrant

Chinese anise, Illicium verum, star anise - small tree of China and Vietnam bearing anise-scented star-shaped fruit used in food and medicinally as a carminative

tree - a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms