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Illicium floridanum
Also called Purple Anise, Florida Anise, Florida Anise Tree
Illicium floridanum (also known as purple anise, Florida anise, stink-bush, or star-anise) is an evergreen shrub native to the Gulf Coast area of the Southern United States, from Florida to Louisiana. It is also native to Mexico.
Illicium floridanum is a perennial plant and in the United States it is native to northern Florida and Georgia, as well as along the coastal plain toward Louisiana. The species is assessed as endangered in Georgia. A population is known from northeastern Mexico, from Tamaulipas to Puebla. Illicium floridanum can be seen growing in wetlands, but can also be found in non-wetland areas. It grows in partial to fully shaded areas. However, it can survive in sunny areas, as long as it is being watered well. The soil for this plant should be moist, mulched and watered, especially during periods of dryness.
Illicium floridanum is toxic for ingestion, and should not be used an alternative to a culinary spice. However, there is a similar species, the Chinese plant known as Illicium verum, which is used as a spice, and the oil of which is used in medicine and to flavor alcoholic beverages.
Lantau Star Anise · Japanese Star Anise · Illicium arborescens · Illicium brevistylum · Illicium burmanicum · Illicium cubense · Illicium difengpi · Illicium dunnianum · Hispaniolan Star Anise · Himalayan Star Anise · Illicium guajaibonense · Henry's Anise
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Illicium floridanum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
