Illicium

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Illicium \Il*li"ci*um\, n. [So called, in allusion to its aroma,
     from L. illicium an allurement.] (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.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Illicium
       n : anise trees: evergreen trees with aromatic leaves [syn: {genus
           Illicium}]