Anise

?Anise
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae   Division: Magnoliophyta   Class: Magnoliopsida   Order: Apiales   Family: Apiaceae   Genus: Pimpinella   Species: P. anisum
Binomial name
Pimpinella anisum L.

Anise or Aniseed, less commonly anís (stressed on the first syllable) (Pimpinella anisum) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southwest Asia. It is a herbaceous annual plant growing to 50 cm tall. The leaves at the base of the plant are simple, 2-5 cm long and shallowly lobed, while leaves higher on the stems are feathery pinnate, divided into numerous leaflets. The flowers are white, 3 mm diameter, produced in dense umbels. The fruit is an oblong dry schizocarp, 3-5 mm long.

Pimpinella species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the lime-speck pug and wormwood pug.

Medicinal Uses

Anise leaves are used to treat digestive problems, to relieve toothache, and its essential oil is used to treat lice and scabies.

Anise is also said to smell vaguely like liquorice.