Wood moderately hard, smooth. Leaves 2-4 in,, oblong-elliptic or obovate-lanceolate, acute at both ends or tip, mucronate, glabrous, or puberulous only on the nerves beneath, Flowers, white, 3-4 in. diam. Buds ½-1½ in., ovoid. Perianth—segments 9-12 obovate, inner acute and narrower than the outer. Stamens shorter than the gynœcium. Ovaries silky, with 2-4 ovules. Fruiting spike interrupted, 2-3 in. long: carpels warty, spiculate, mixed with many abortive carpels. Seeds bright and scarlet (Brandis).
Part used:—The bark.
Use:—The bark is made into decoction and infusion, and used as a febrifuge.
32. Illicium Griffithii, H, f. and Thoms. H.F.B.I., I. 40.
Vern:—Bâdayân (Marâthi).
Habitat:—Bhotan; Khasia hills.
A shrub. Branches angular, glabrous. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 2-4 by 1-2 in., acute at both ends, coriaceous, shining. Flowers 1½ in. diam. Perianth—segments about 24. Sepals 6, orbicular. Petals 18, outer oval, inner smaller, narrow. Carpels with a thin fleshy pericarp, woody endocarp, and short subulate incurved beak (Hooker).
Copses in Bhutan and the Khasia Hills, 4-5,000 ft.
Use:—The authors of Pharmacographia Indica, (Vol. I. p. 40) write that it occasionally finds its way into the market. It is used as a substitute for Illicium verum which is a native of Cochin-China. Star-anise is aromatic, stimulant and carminative.
"The fruit of I. Griffithii would appear to contain some bitter principle as well as tannin." (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. I. p. 41).
