illicium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun anise trees: evergreen trees with aromatic leaves
    genus Illicium.

WordNet


Il*li"ci*um noun
Etymology
So called, in allusion to its aroma, from L. illicium an allurement.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A genus of Asiatic and American magnoliaceous trees, having star-shaped fruit; star anise. The fruit of Illicium anisatum is used as a spice in India, and its oil is largely used in Europe for flavoring cordials, being almost identical with true oil of anise.

Webster 1913