Illicium
Illicium , noun
[So called, in allusion to its aroma, from Latin illicium an allurement.]
(Botany) 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.