Tokyo Food Safety Information Center » Good things to know » Poisonous plants easily mistaken for harmless ones » Illicium anisatum (Magnoliaceae)

Illicium anisatum (Magnoliaceae)

Small evergreen tree with glossy and thick leaves, that blooms with light lemon-yellow color flowers in the spring. From autumn to winter it grows fruit in the shape of a star. It is said that Illicium anisatum got its name from “evil fruit”.

Characteristics

Habitat	In the mountains. It often grows in graveyards and temples.
Parts of the plant that may be ingested accidentally.	Fruit,etc. Sometimes children might eat the fruit while playing. It also might be mistaken for star anise used in Chinese cuisine.
Symptoms	Vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, cramps, breathing difficulties, rise of blood pressure, etc.
Venomous constituents	Anisatin, irisin, Hananominn, etc. Whole plant is poisonous. Fruit is especially poisonous.

Illicium anisatum flower

Illicium anisatum seed