ILLICIACEAE [Draft]
八角科 ba jiao ke
Liu Yuhu (刘玉壶 Law Yu-wu)1, Xia Nianhe (夏念和)1; Richard M. K. Saunders2
Trees or shrubs, evergreen, glabrous or very rarely young twigs obscurely puberulent. Perules (vegetative bud scales) imbricate, usually caducous. Young twigs with oily or resinous cells, aromatic. Stipules absent. Leaves alternate, usually fascicled near twig apex or sometimes pseudovercillate or subopposite, simple, petiolate; leaf blade leathery or papery, margin entire and slightly reflexed, midvein abaxially prominent or flat and usually adaxially impressed, secondary veins pinnate. Flowers axillary or supra-axillary, often appearing subterminal near twig apex, rarely cauliflorous, usually solitary, rarely 2--5 clustered, bisexual. Tepals 7--33(--55), yellow or red, rarely white, spirally arranged, distinct, imbricate, usually glandular; outer tepals small, sometimes bractlike; inner tepals large, tonguelike and membranous or ovate to suborbicular and slightly fleshy. Stamens generally numerous, spirally arranged; filaments tonguelike to subterete; anthers 2-celled, basifixed, introrse to introrse-lateral, longitudinally dehiscent. Carpels (5--)7--15(--21), in one whorl, distinct; ovary 1-loculed; ovule anatropous, ventral or near basal; style short, subulate. Fruit a star-shaped follicetum of single-seeded follicles, dehiscent along ventral suture. Seeds elliptic to ovate, laterally compressed, glossy; endosperm abundant, oily; embryo small.
One genus and ca. 40 species: mostly in E and SE Asia, a few in SE North America and tropical America; 27 species (18 endemic) in China.
1. ILLICIUM Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1050. 1759.
八角属 ba jiao shu
Characters and distribution same as the family.
1a..... Inner tepals thin, membranous, ± open when flowering, narrowly oblong, tonguelike, or lanceolate; flower buds ovoid; pollen grains tricolpate.
2a..... Leaf blade midvein adaxially prominent; flower peduncle 0.5--3 cm.
3a..... Flower peduncle 2--3 cm; style and ovary subequal in length; fruit peduncle 3--4 cm 1. I. jiadifengpi
3b..... Flower peduncle 0.5--2 cm; style distinctly longer than ovary; fruit peduncle 1.2--3.5 cm.
4a...... Leaf blade secondary veins abaxially conspicuously prominent; tepals (17--)22--33; stamens 22--25 ....................................................................................................... 2. I. angustisepalum
4b..... Leaf blade secondary veins abaxially flat or slightly prominent; tepals 10--21; stamens 16--23.
6a..... Carpels 6--8(--10); fruit with 6--8(--10) follicles .............................. 3. I. philippinense
6b..... Carpels 12 or 13; fruit with (8--)12--13 follicles ......................................... 4. I. tashiroi
2b..... Leaf blade midvein adaxially impressed; flower peduncle 0.2--1 cm.
7a..... Perules small, inconspicuous; tepals 16--19; stamens 12 or 13; fruit with 6--8 follicles ....... 5. I. tsaii
7b..... Perules large, largest 0.4--1.5 cm; tepals 18--32; stamens 16--35; fruit with 8--13 follicles.
8a..... Largest perules 1.2--1.5 cm; leaf blade papery .................................................. 6. I. burmanicum
8b..... Largest perules 0.4--1.3 cm; leaf blade leathery.
9a..... Stamens 28--35; fruit follicles 2.5--2.8 cm ............................................................ 7. I. wardii
9b..... Stamens 16--28; fruit follicles 1.1--2 cm.
10a... Leaf blade 5--10 × 1.5--3.5 cm; tepals 18--23(‑‑26), largest tepal 0.9--1.5 cm; carpels 8--13; style and ovary subequal in length ........................................................ 8. I. simonsii
10b... Leaf blade 8--13(--14) × 2.5--5.5(--6.5) cm; tepals 27--32, largest tepal 1.5--2.5 cm; carpels 13--14; style distinctly longer than ovary ...................................... 9. I. macranthum
1b..... Inner tepals fleshy to papery, only slightly open when flowering, usually ovate to suborbicular; flower buds globose; pollen grains trisyncolpate.
11a... Carpels 4--10(--12); fruit with 2--10 follicles.
12a... Style and ovary subequal in length.
13a... Tepals greenish yellow to pale yellow; stamens 4--7 ...................................... 24. I. oligandrum
13b... Tepals red to orangish red; stamens 8--19.
14a... Stamens 14--19; carpels 3.5--4.5 mm, with 1.8--2.5 mm style ............... 25. I. merrillianum
14b... Stamens 8--14; carpels 2.3--3.2 mm, with 1--1.5 mm style.
15a... Tepals (14--)17--21; fruit follicles 0.9--1.4 cm ................................ 26. I. micranthum
15b... Tepals 10--13; fruit follicles 1.4--1.5 cm ................................................ 27. I. petelotii
12b... Style distinctly longer than ovary.
16a... Perules large (largest 8--12 mm).
17a... Leaf blade 0.8--1.2(--2.7) cm wide; stamens (11--)19--24(--31); carpels 2.5--3.5 mm, with 1.4--2 mm style ........................................................................................................ 17. I. dunnianum
17b... Leaf blade 1.5--4.5 cm wide; stamens 7--10; carpels 3--5.5 mm, with 2--3.8 mm style 20. I. tsangii
16b... Perules small (largest to 5 mm).
18a... Flower peduncle 0.3--0.5 cm; fruit peduncle ca. 1 cm ........................ 21. I. pachyphyllum
18b... Flower peduncle 1.5--5 cm; fruit peduncle 1.5--5.5 cm.
19a... Tepals 10--15, largest 7--10 × 4--8.5 mm; seeds 6.5--7.5 mm ................. 22. I. henryi
19b... Tepals 7--12, largest 9--12 × 8--12 mm; seeds 7‑-10 mm ......................... 23. I. verum
11b... Carpels (9--)10--16; fruit with 9--14 follicles.
20a... Style distinctly longer than ovary.
21a... Tepals 25--26 ................................................................................................................. 16. I. griffithii
21b... Tepals 10--20.
22a... Carpels 2.5--3.5 mm; seeds 4--5 mm ........................................................... 17. I. dunnianum
22b... Carpels 3.9--5.5 mm; seeds 6--8 mm.
23a... Leaf blade with 4--7 secondary veins on each side of midvein; petiole 1.3--2.5 cm; tepals (11--)15--17(--20); stamens (14‑‑)20--23; fruit peduncle 1--4 cm 18. I. difengpi
23b... Leaf blade with 6--10 secondary veins on each side of midvein; petiole 0.7--1.5 cm; tepals 10--15; stamens 6--1; fruit peduncle 6--8 cm ..................... 19. I. lanceolatum
20b... Style and ovary subequal in length or style shorter than ovary.
24a... Stamens 14--21.
25a... Perules large (largest 1--2 cm); flower peduncle 1.8--4.5(--6) cm ..................... 10. I. majus
25b... Perules small (largest < 1 cm); flower peduncle 0.8--1.7 cm.
26a... Leaves in clusters of 2 or 3 at distal nodes; petiole 4--7 mm; tepals ca. 19, greenish yellow; style and ovary subequal in length ..................................... 11. I. modestum
26b... Leaves in clusters of 3 to 5 at distal nodes; petiole 6--20 mm; tepals 9--11, pale red; style shorter than ovary ................................................................... 12. I. brevistylum
24b... Stamens 22--41.
27a... Tepals 21--23 ............................................................................................... 13. I. leiophyllum
27b... Tepals 10--21.
28a... Tepals 10--14; stamens 22--30 ................................................ 14. I. ternstroemioides
28b... Tepals 14--21; stamens 39--41 ........................................................ 15. I. arborescens
1. Illicium jiadifengpi B. N. Chang, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 4: 47. 1982.
假地枫皮 jia di feng pi
Illicium jiadifengpi var. baishanense B. N. Chang & S. H. Qu.
Trees to 20 m tall. Perules ovate to lanceolate, 3--5 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 1.5--3 cm; leaf blade narrowly elliptic, 7--16 × 2--4.5 cm, midvein adaxially conspicuously prominent, secondary veins 5--8 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces flat or slightly prominent, base decurrent along petiole, apex caudate to acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 2--3 cm. Tepals 33--55, white or pale yellowish, narrowly tonguelike, 14--17 × ca. 3 mm (largest), thinly papery, submembranous, or fleshy. Stamens 28--32, 2.7--3 mm; filaments ca. 2 mm; connective shape unknown; anthers ca. 1 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 12--14, 3.5--4 mm; ovary 1.5--2 mm; style 1.5--2 mm. Fruit peduncle 3--4 cm. Fruit with 12--14 follicles; follicles 15--19 × 5--8 × 2--4 mm. Seeds ca. 8 × 4‑-5 × 2--3 mm. Fl. Mar--Jun, fr. Aug--Oct.
* Forests; 1000--2000 m. N Guangdong, NE Guangxi, Hubei, S Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang (Qingyuan Xian).
The fruit can cause serious poisoning.
2. Illicium angustisepalum A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 36. 1947.
大屿八角 da yu ba jiao
Illicium jiadifengpi B. N. Chang f. minwanense (B. N. Chang & S. D. Zhang) Q. Lin; I. minwanense B. N. Chang & S. D. Zhang; I. wuyishanum Q. Lin.
Trees to 11 m tall. Perules oblong to ovate, to 7 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--6 at distal nodes; petiole 1--2.5 cm; leaf blade oblong-elliptic to elliptic, (5.5--)7--12(--20) × 2--4(--7.5) cm, thinly leathery to leathery, midvein adaxially slightly prominent, secondary veins 6--9 on each side of midvein, abaxially prominent, and adaxially prominent or slightly impressed, base attenuate or decurrent along petiole, apex subacute to acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 0.5--2 cm. Tepals (17--)22--33, white or pale yellowish, elliptic (outer) to elliptic-oblong (largest), 14--16 × 3--3.5 mm (largest), thinly papery to submembranous. Stamens 22--25, 2.5--3.2 mm; filaments 1.2--2 mm; connectives truncate to slightly cuspidate; anthers 1.1--1.6 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 11--16, 3.5--4 mm; ovary 1.3--1.7 mm; style 1.5--3 mm. Fruit peduncle 1.2--3 cm. Fruit with 11--16 follicles; follicles 1--2.2 × 0.5--1.5 × 0.3--0.8 cm. Seeds 5--8.5 × 4--6 × 2--4 mm. Fl. Feb--Apr, fr. Sep--Oct.
* Side of ravines, forest margins; 1000--1900 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong.
3. Illicium philippinense Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci., C. 4: 254. 1909.
白花八角 bai hua ba jiao
Illicium anisatum Linnaeus var. leucanthum Hayata; I. arborescens Hayata var. oblongum Hayata; I. daibuense Yamamoto; I. leucanthum (Hayata) Hayata; I. philippinense Merrill var. daibuense (Yamamoto) S. S. Ying.
Shrubs or trees, to 8 m tall. Perules oblong, to 5 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3 or 4 at distal nodes; petiole 0.7--1.5 cm; leaf blade lanceolate to narrowly oblong-elliptic, 5--10 × 2--4 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially prominent, secondary veins 5--7 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces inconspicuous or slightly prominent, base attenuate, apex acute to acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 5--14 mm. Tepals 15--21, white, elliptic to obovate-oblong (outer and inner) to narrowly oblong to tonguelike (largest), 7--12 × 4--7 mm (outer), 11--17 × 3--5 mm (largest), 7--12 × 4--7 mm (inner), thinly papery (outer and inner) to membranous (middle). Stamens 16--23, 2.5--3.5 mm; filaments 1.3--2.5 mm; connectives slightly emarginate to obtuse-cuspidate; anthers 1--1.7 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 6--8(--10), 3.5--5 mm; ovary 1.5--2 mm; style 2--3.3 mm. Fruit peduncle sometimes to 2.5 cm. Fruit with 6--8(--10) follicles; follicles 13--16 × 5--7 × 3--4 mm. Seeds 6--6.5 × 3.5--4 × 2.5--3 mm. Fl. Dec--Mar, fr. May--Nov.
Forests; 1000--2400 m. Taiwan [Philippines].
4. Illicium tashiroi Maximowicz, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg 32: 479. 1888.
峦大八角 luan da ba jiao
Illicium anisatum Linnaeus var. tashiroi (Maximowicz) E. H. Walker; I. randaiense Hayata.
Shrubs or small trees. Perules elliptic, to 4 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.8--1.7 cm; leaf blade lanceolate-elliptic, 6--11 × 2--4.2 cm, thinly leathery to leathery, midvein abaxially slightly prominent or towards base slightly impressed, secondary veins 5--8 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces flat or slightly prominent, base attenuate, apex acuminate. Flowers axillary. Flower peduncle 1--2 cm. Tepals 10--20, white, narrowly oblong, 11--15 × 1.5--4 mm, membranous. Stamens 17--20, 2.7--3.2 mm; filaments 1.3--2 mm; connectives truncate to obtuse; anthers 1--1.3 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 12 or 13, 4--4.7 mm; ovary 1.8--2 mm; style 2--2.7 mm. Fruit peduncle 1.2--3.5 cm. Fruit with (8--)12 or 13 follicles; follicles 15--17 × 7--8 × 3.5--4 mm. Seeds 7--7.5 × 4.5--5 mm. Fl. Apr--Aug.
Forests; ca. 2000 m. Taiwan [Japan (Ryukyu Islands)].
5. Illicium tsaii A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 27. 1947.
文山八角 wen shan ba jiao
Shrubs or trees, to 10 m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters at distal nodes; petiole 1--1.3 cm; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate, 5--9 × 1.5--3 cm, subleathery, midvein adaxially inconspicuously impressed, secondary veins 6--8 on each side of midvein and inconspicuous, base narrowly cuneate, apex acuminate and mucronate. Flowers subterminal. Flower peduncle 2.5--4 mm. Tepals 16--19, white, oblong (outer), narrowly oblong-elliptic (largest), to lanceolate-tongue-like (inner), 6--7 × 2.5--4.5 mm (outer), 8--12 × 2.5--4.5 mm (largest), 7--12 × 1.5--3 mm (inner), papery (outer) to membranous (middle). Stamens 12--13, 2.8--4 mm; filaments 1.3--2.7 mm; connectives obtuse to cuspidate; anthers 1.2--1.5 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels ca. 8, 3--4.5 mm; ovary 1.2--1.8 mm; style 1.8--2.8 mm. Fruit peduncle 8--9 mm. Fruit with 6--8 follicles; follicles 15--17 × 3--4 × ca. 3 mm. Seeds ca. 7 × 4 × 2 mm. Fl. Feb, fr. Sep.
* Forests; 1800--2000 m. SE Yunnan.
6. Illicium burmanicum E. H. Wilson, J. Arnold Arbor. 7: 238. 1926.
中缅八角 zhong mian ba jiao
Shrubs or trees, to 12 m tall. Perules lanceolate-ovate, largest 1.2--1.5 cm. Leaves in clusters of 4--10 at distal nodes; petiole 1.5--3 cm; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate, obovate-oblong, or sometimes lanceolate, 7--12 × 2.5--4 cm, papery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 8--12 on each side of midvein, abaxially prominent, and adaxially prominent or ± flat, base broadly cuneate, apex cuspidate to shortly acute. Flowers axillary. Flower peduncle 3--10 mm. Tepals 20--27, white or ± purple, elliptic to oblong-elliptic (outer and inner) to oblong-obovate (largest), 13--15 × 3--5.5 mm (largest), papery (outer and largest) to gradually shorter and narrower (inner). Stamens 20--24, 3.8--4.2 mm; filaments 1.2--1.6 mm; connectives truncate to slightly extended and obtuse; anthers 2.1--2.7 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 8--12, 4--5 mm; ovary 1.5--2.5 mm; style 2--3 mm. Fruit peduncle length unknown. Fruit with 8--10 follicles; follicles ca. 2 × 0.8--0.9 × ca. 0.4 cm. Seed size unknown. Fl. Apr--Nov, fr. Aug.
Forests; 2300--2700 m. W Yunnan [Myanmar].
7. Illicium wardii A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 20. 1947.
贡山八角 gong shan ba jiao
Trees to 10 m tall. Perules oblong, largest 0.8--1.3 cm. Leaves in clusters of 3 or 4 at distal nodes; petiole 1.2--2 cm; leaf blade narrowly oblong-elliptic, 8--12 × 2.5--5 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 8--13 on each side of midvein, abaxially ± prominent, and adaxially impressed or flat, base narrowly cuneate, apex cuspidate to shortly acuminate. Flowers axillary. Flower peduncle 6--10 mm. Tepals 27--30, pale yellow, white, or sometimes pinkish, oblong (outer), oblong-tonguelike (largest), to tonguelike-lanceolate (inner), 10--11 × 6--8 mm (outer), 14--17(--21) × 2.5--4.5 mm (largest), (5--)8--11 × 1.5--2 mm (inner), thinly papery (outer and largest). Stamens 28--35, 3.5--4.5 mm; filaments 1.5--2.5 mm; connectives obtuse to cuspidate; anthers 1.9--2.5 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 12 or 13, 4--6 mm; ovary 1.5--2 mm; style 2.3--4 mm. Fruit peduncle 0.8--1.5 cm. Fruit with 12 or 13 follicles; follicles 2.5--2.8 × 1--1.1 × 0.2‑-0.3 cm. Seed size unknown. Fl. Mar, fr. Jul--Sep.
Forests; 1800--2700 m. NW Yunnan [Myanmar].
8. Illicium simonsii Maximowicz, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg 32: 480. 1888.
野八角 ye ba jiao
Illicium fargesii Finet & Gagnepain; I. fargesii subsp. szechuanense (W. C. Cheng) Q. Lin; I. fargesii var. szechuanense (W. C. Cheng) Q. Lin; I. griffithii J. D. Hooker & Thomson var. yunnanense Franchet; I. jiadifengpi B. N. Chang var. szechuanense (W. C. Cheng) Y. W. Law & B. N. Chang; I. szechuanense W. C. Cheng; I. yunnanense Franchet ex Finet & Gagnepain.
Trees to 9(--15) m tall. Perules ovate to lanceolate, largest 4--10 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.7--2 cm; leaf blade lanceolate to elliptic, 5--10 × 1.5--3.5 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 6--10(--12) on each side of midvein, abaxially slightly prominent, and adaxially flat or slightly prominent, base attenuate to cuneate and decurrent along petiole, apex acute to shortly acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 2--8 mm. Tepals 18--23(--26), pale yellow, sometimes creamy or white, or rarely pink, elliptic-oblong (outer), oblong-lanceolate to tonguelike (largest), to tongue-like (inner), 5--11 × 4--7 mm (outer), 9--15 × 2--4 mm (largest), 7--15 × 1--3 mm (inner), thinly papery (outer) to membranous (middle). Stamens 16--28, 2.5--4.2 mm; filaments 1--2.2 mm; connectives rounded to shortly cuspidate; anthers 1.4--2.4 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 8--13, 3--4.5 m; ovary 1.2--2 mm; style 1.5--2.5 mm. Fruit peduncle 0.5--1.6 cm. Fruit with 8--13 follicles; follicles 11--20 × 6--9 × 2--4 mm. Seeds 6--7 × 4--5 × 2--2.5 mm. Fl. nearly all year but mostly Feb--May, fr. Jun--Oct.
Thickets, forests, open fields, ravines, along rivers, wet places; 1700--3200(--4000) m, W Guizhou, SW Sichuan, Yunnan [NE India, N Myanmar].
The fruit, leaves, and flowers are very poisonous.
9. Illicium macranthum A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 21. 1947.
大花八角 da hua ba jiao
Shrubs or trees, to 8 m tall. Perules lanceolate, to 1 cm. Leaves in clusters of 2--4 at distal nodes; petiole 1--2.5 cm; leaf blade oblong to obovate-elliptic, 8--13(--14) × 2.5--5.5(‑‑6.5) cm, leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 7--12 on each side of midvein, abaxially slightly prominent near margin, and adaxially slightly impressed or flat, base narrowed to acute, apex acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 6--10 mm. Tepals 27--32, white to slightly greenish, oblong (outer) to narrowly tonguelike (largest), 7--17 × 4--7 mm (outer), 1.5--2.5 cm × 2--4 mm (largest), 1.5--2.1 cm × 1--2.5 mm (inner), submembranous (outer) to membranous (middle). Stamens 21--26, 3.2--4.7 mm; filaments 1.3--2.5 mm; connectives cuspidate; anthers 1.5--2.5 mm; pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 13--14, 4--5.5 mm; ovary 1.5--2 mm; style 2.5--3.5 mm. Fruit peduncle length unknown. Fruit with ca. 11 follicles; follicles 16--20 × 6--9 × 3--4 mm. Seed size unknown. Fl. Jan--Mar, fr. Jul--Nov.
* Forests, slopes; 1600--2800 m. S and W Yunnan.
The leaves, flowers, and fruit are very poisonous.
10. Illicium majus J. D. Hooker & Thomson in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 40. 1872.
大八角 da ba jiao
Badianifera major Kuntze; Glochidion cavaleriei H. Léveillé; Illicium cavaleriei (H. Léveillé) H. Léveillé; I. spathulatum Y. C. Wu.
Trees to 20 m tall. Perules oblong-elliptic, largest 1--2 cm. Leaves in clusters of 3--6 at distal nodes; petiole 1--2.5 cm; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate to oblanceolate, 10--20 × 2.5--7 cm, subleathery, midvein adaxially slightly impressed, secondary veins 6--9 on each side of midvein, abaxially inconspicuous or slightly prominent, and adaxially flat or slightly prominent, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 1.8--4.5(--6) cm. Tepals 15--21, elliptic to obovate-oblong (inner), 6--15 × 3--9 mm (inner), fleshy. Stamens 12--21, 2.3--4.3 mm; filaments 1.1--2.8 mm; connectives truncate to slightly emarginate; anthers 1‑-1.5 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels (9--)11--14, 4--5.5 mm; ovary 1.5--2.5 mm; style 2--3 mm. Fruit peduncle 1.8--4.5(--6) cm. Fruit with 10--14 follicles; follicles 1.2--2.5 × 0.5--1.5 × 0.3--0.5 cm. Seeds 6--1 × 4.5--7 × 2--3 mm. Fl. Apr--Jun, fr. Jul--Oct.
Mixed forests, thickets, rocky slopes, along riverbanks; 300--2500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan [S Myanmar, Vietnam].
The fruit and bark are poisonous.
11. Illicium modestum A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 51. 1947.
滇南八角 dian nan ba jiao
Shrubs or trees, to 3 m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters of 2 or 3 at distal nodes; petiole 4--7 mm; leaf blade narrowly oblong-elliptic, 5--7.5 × 1.5--2.5 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 5--7 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces slightly prominent near margin, base narrowly cuneate, apex shortly acuminate. Flowers subterminal. Flower peduncle 0.9--1.7 cm. Tepals ca. 19, greenish yellow, elliptic to oblong-elliptic (largest), 8--9 × 5--6 mm (largest), papery. Stamens ca. 17, 2.7--3 mm; filaments 1.5--1.8 mm; connectives inconspicuously truncate; anthers 1.2--1.3 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels ca. 12, 2.8--3.2 mm; ovary 1.4--1.6 mm; style nearly as long as ovary. Fruit peduncle length unknown. Fruit with ca. 12 follicles; follicle size unknown. Seed size unknown. Fl. Jun.
* Forests, slopes; ca. 1900 m. S Yunnan.
12. Illicium brevistylum A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 50. 1947.
短柱八角 duan zhu ba jiao
Shrubs or trees, to 15 m tall. Perules lanceolate, largest 5--8 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.6--2 cm; leaf blade narrowly oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 5--8(‑‑14) × 1.5--4.5 cm, thinly leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 5--8 on each side of midvein and inconspicuous, base attenuate and decurrent along petiole, apex acute to shortly caudate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 0.8--1.6 cm. Tepals 9--11, pale red, suborbicular (largest), 6--11 × 6--11 mm (largest), papery (outer) to fleshy (inner). Stamens 14--20, 1.9--3.4 mm; filaments 0.9--1.9 mm; connectives truncate; anthers 0.8--1.6 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 12 or 13, 2.3--3.4 mm; ovary 1.5--2.2 mm; style 0.8--1.2 mm. Fruit peduncle 1.6--3.5 cm. Fruit with 11--13 follicles; follicles 13--17 × 6--10 × 3--4 mm. Seeds 6--7 × 4.5--5 × 2.5--3 mm. Fl. Apr--May and Oct, fr. Oct--Nov and Apr--May.
* Forests, thickets, on rocks; 700--1700 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Hunan, Yunnan.
13. Illicium leiophyllum A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 54. 1947.
平花八角 ping hua ba jiao
Shrubs to 4 m tall. Perules ovate, to 5 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.8--1.7 cm; leaf blade oblong-elliptic, (6--)8--13 × (2--)2.5--4 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially conspicuously impressed, secondary veins 6--9 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces inconspicuous or slightly prominent, base attenuate and decurrent along petiole, apex acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle short. Tepals 21--23, suborbicular-triangular (outer), 4--5 × 4--5 mm (outer), papery with membranous margin (outer) to fleshy (inner). Stamens 29 or 30, length unknown; connectives obtuse to slightly emarginate; anthers 0.8--1 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 11 or 12, length unknown; style nearly as long as ovary. Fruit peduncle 2--2.5 cm. Fruit with 11 or 12 follicles; follicles 11--19 × 5--7 × 3‑-4 mm. Seed size unknown.
* Rock crevices. Hong Kong.
14. Illicium ternstroemioides A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 58. 1947.
厚皮香八角 hou pi xiang ba jiao
Trees to 12 m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.7--2 cm; leaf blade oblong-elliptic, oblanceolate, or narrowly obovate, 7--13 × 2--5 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially slightly impressed, secondary veins 6--9 on each side of midvein and inconspicuous, base broadly cuneate, apex acuminate to long acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 0.7--3 cm. Tepals 10--14, red, broadly elliptic to suborbicular (largest), 7--12 × 7--12 mm (largest), papery to slightly feshy. Stamens 22--30, 1.8--3.4 mm; filament lengths unknown; connectives truncate to slightly emarginate; anthers 0.7--1 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 12--14, 2.5--4 mm; ovary 1.3--2.5 mm; style 1.1--2 mm. Fruit peduncle 2.5--4.5 cm. Fruit with 12--14 follicles; follicles 13--20 × 6--9 × 3--5 mm. Seeds 6--7 × 4--4.5 × 2--3 mm. Fl. Jan--Aug, fr. Apr--Nov. 2n = 28.
* Forests, ravines, along rivers, 800--1700 m. Fujian, Hainan.
The Fruit are poisonous.
15. Illicium arborescens Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 2: 105. 1912.
台湾八角 tai wan ba jiao
Trees to 15 m tall. Perules oblong, to 3 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.8--1.7 cm; leaf blade narrowly oblong, lanceolate, or obovate-elliptic, 6--12 × 2--4.5 cm, thinly leathery to leathery, midvein adaxially impressed adaxially, secondary veins 5--8 on each side of midvein, abaxially slightly prominent, and adaxially flat or slightly prominent, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 0.5--2.2 cm. Tepals 14--21, red to pale red, obovate-oblong (largest), 8--12 × 5--9 mm (largest), papery to fleshy. Stamens 39--41, 2--3 mm; filaments 1.2--1.7 mm; connectives truncate and slightly emarginate; anthers 1--1.5 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 12--16, 2--3.8 mm; ovary 1--1.8 mm; style 1--2 mm. Fruit peduncle 1.5--3 cm. Fruit with (10--)12--14 follicles; follicles 15--18 × 6--7 × 3--4 mm. Seeds 6--9 × 4.5--6 × 1.5--2 mm. Fl. Jan--Apr, fr. Oct.
* Broadleaf forests; 300--2500 m. Taiwan.
The Fruit are poisonous.
16. Illicium griffithii J. D. Hooker & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 1: 74. 1855.
西藏八角 xi zang ba jiao
Ternstroemia khasyana Choisy.
Trees to 30 m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.7--1.7 cm; leaf blade oblong-elliptic to narrowly obovate-elliptic, 7--13 × 2--5.5 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially conspicuously impressed, secondary veins 7--10 on each side of midvein, abaxially prominent, and adaxially ± impressed to slightly raised, base narrowly cuneate, apex acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 1--2 cm. Tepals 25--26, oblong-obovate (inner), 4--10 × 2.5--10 mm (inner), papery to thinly leathery (outer) to fleshy (inner). Stamens ca. 30, 2.3--2.7 mm; filaments 1.1--1.4 mm; connectives subtruncate; anthers 1--1.4 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 12 or 13, 4--4.5 mm; ovary ca. 1.5 mm; style 2.5--3 mm. Fruit peduncle 1.5--4.7 cm. Fruit with 12 or 13 follicles; follicles 1.4--2 × 0.8--1 × 0.3--0.5 cm. Seeds ca. 7 × 5 × 2--2.5 mm. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Oct--Dec.
Forests; 1200--2300 m. S Xizang [Bhutan, NE India].
17. Illicium dunnianum Tutcher, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 37: 62. 1905.
红花八角 hong hua ba jiao
Illicium dunnianum var. latifolium Q. Lin.
Shrubs to 2(--10) m tall. Perules lanceolate-elliptic, largest to 8 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--8 at distal nodes; petiole 3--12 mm; leaf blade narrowly lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, 5--12 × 0.8--1.2(--2.7) cm, thinly leathery, midvein adaxially slightly impressed, secondary veins 5--9 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces inconspicuous or slightly prominent, base attenuate and decurrent along petiole, apex abruptly caudate to acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 1--3.5 cm. Tepals 12--20, pink, red, or purplish red, elliptic to suborbicular (largest), 6--11 × 4--8 mm (largest), papery to slightly feshy. Stamens (11--)19--24(‑-31), 1.7--3.3 mm; filament lengths unknown; connectives obtuse to slightly emarginate; anthers 0.8--1.5 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 8--13, 2.5--3.5 mm; ovary 1.2--1.5 mm; style 1.4--2 mm. Fruit peduncle 2--5.5 cm. Fruit with 7--8(--13) follicles; follicles 9--15 × ca. 4 × 2--3 mm. Seeds 4--5 × 2.5--3.3 × 1.7--2.2 mm. Fl. Mar--Jul and Oct--Nov, fr. Jul--Oct.
* Along riverbanks, ravines, forests, wet slopes, rock crevices; 400--1000 m. S Fujiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, S and SW Guizhou, W Hunan.
18. Illicium difengpi B. N. Chang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 15(2): 76. 1977.
地枫皮 di feng pi
Shrubs to 3 m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 1.3--2.5 cm; leaf blade oblanceolate to long elliptic, (7--)10--14 × (2--)3--5 cm, leathery to thickly leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 4--7 on each side of midvein, abaxially slightly prominent, and adaxially inconspicuous, base cuneate, apex acute to subrounded. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 1.2--2.5 cm. Tepals (11--)15--17(‑‑20), purplish red to red, broadly elliptic to suborbicular (largest), ca. 1.5 × 1 cm (largest), fleshy. Stamens (14--)20--23, 3--4 mm; filaments ca. 2 mm; connective shape unknown; anthers 3--3.5 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels usually 13, 4.5--5.5 mm; ovary 2--2.5 mm; style 2.5--3.5 mm. Fruit peduncle 1--4 cm. Fruit with 9--11 follicles; follicles 12--16 × 9--10 × ca. 3 mm. Seeds 6--7 × ca. 4.5 × 1.5--2.5 mm. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Aug--Oct.
* Forests, limestone hills; 700--1200 m. E and NE Guangxi.
Medicinal.
19. Illicium lanceolatum A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 43. 1947.
红毒茴 hong du hui
Shrubs or trees, to 10 m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters at distal nodes; petiole 0.7--1.5 cm; leaf blade lanceolate, oblanceolate, or obovate-elliptic, 5--15 × 1.5--4.5 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially slightly impressed, secondary veins 6--10 on each side of midvein and inconspicuous, base narrowly cuneate, apex caudate to acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 1.5--5 cm. Tepals 10--15, red to dark red, elliptic to oblong-obovate (largest), 8--13 × 6--8 mm (largest), fleshy. Stamens 6--11, 2.8--3.9 mm; filaments 1.5--2.5 mm; connectives apically inconspicuously truncate to slightly emarginate; anthers 1--1.5 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 10--14, 3.9--5.3 mm; ovary 1.5--2 mm; style 2--3.3 mm. Fruit peduncle 6--8 cm. Fruit with (9 or)10--14 follicles; follicles 14--21 × 5--9 × 3--5 mm. Seeds 7--8 × ca. 5 × 2--3.5 mm. Fl. Apr--Jun, fr. Aug--Oct.
* Mixed forests, thickets; 300--1500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, S Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.
Essential oil are extract from fruit and leaves which are strongly aromatic. The roots and root bark are toxic, but they are used medicinally.
20. Illicium tsangii A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 61. 1947.
粤中八角 yue zhong ba jiao
Illicium micranthum Dunn subsp. tsangii (A. C. Smith) Q. Lin.
Shrubs to 3 m tall. Perules ovate, 1--1.2 cm. Leaves in clusters of 3 or 4 at distal nodes; petiole 0.8--1.5 cm; leaf blade lanceolate to narrowly obovate-elliptic, 5--13 × 1.5--4.5 cm, thickly leathery, midvein adaxially conspicuously impressed, secondary veins 6--8 on each side of midvein and inconspicuous, base narrowly cuneate to attenuate and usually decurrent along petiole, apex shortly caudate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 1.4--3.2 cm. Tepals 14--17, red, shape, size, and texture unknown. Stamens 7--10, 2.5--3.7 mm; filaments 1.3--2 mm; connectives emarginate; anthers 1.2--1.7 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 7--10, 3--5.5 mm; ovary 1--1.7 mm; style 2--3.8 mm. Fruit peduncle ca. 3 cm. Fruit with 7--10 follicles; follicles ca. 1.8 cm. Seed size unknwon. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Jul--Aug.
* Thickets, at roadsides; 700--800 m. Guangdong.
21. Illicium pachyphyllum A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 64. 1947.
短梗八角 duan geng ba jiao
Shrubs to 3 m tall. Perules oblong-lanceolate, ca. 5 mm. Leaves in clusters of 4--7 at distal nodes; petiole 3--12 mm; leaf blade elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 6--9 × 1.5--3.5 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 6--9 on each side of midvein and inconspicuous, base attenuate, apex acuminate to shortly caudate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 3--5 mm. Tepals 9--12, pink, purplish red, or white, obovate to oblong (largest), 6--8.5 × 5--7 mm (largest). Stamens 13--17, 2.2--2.6 mm; filaments 1.5--1.7 mm; connectives truncate; anthers 0.8--0.9 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 8--10, 4--4.3 mm; ovary 1.5--1.7 mm; style 2.5--2.7 mm. Fruit peduncle ca. 1 cm. Fruit with 8--10 follicles; follicles 11--13 × 6--7 × 4--5 mm. Seed size unknown. Fl. Dec--Mar, fr. Sep--Oct.
* Ravines, near water, shady places. S Guangxi.
22. Illicium henryi Diels, Bot. Jahrb. 29: 323. 1900.
红茴香 hong hui xiang
Illicium henryi var. multistamineum A. C. Smith; I. pseudosimonsii Q. Lin; I. silvestrii Pavolini.
Shrubs or trees, to 8(--12) m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters of 2--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.7--2 cm; leaf blade oblanceolate, long lanceolate, or obovate-elliptic, 6--18 × 1.2--5(--6) cm, leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 5--8 on each side of midvein and inconspicuous, base cuneate, apex long acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 1.5--5 cm. Tepals 10--15, pink to dark red, oblong-elliptic to broadly elliptic (largest), 7--10 × 4--8.5 mm (largest). Stamens 11--14, 2.2--3.5 mm; filaments 1.2--2.3 mm; connectives inconspicuously truncate; anthers 0.9--1.2 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 7--9(--12), 3--5 mm; ovary 1.5--2 mm; style 2--3.3 mm. Fruit peduncle 1.5--5.5 cm. Fruit with 7--9 follicles; follicles 12--20 × 5--8 × 3--4 mm. Seeds 6.5--7.5 × 5--5.5 × 2.5--3 mm. Fl Apr--Jun, fr. Aug--Oct.
* Forests, hills, thickets, ravines, wet places; 300--2500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan.
Ornamental and medicinal.
The fruit are poisonous.
23. Illicium verum J. D. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 114: t. 7005. 1888.
八角 ba jiao
Illicium san-ki Perrottet.
Trees to 15 m tall. Perules ovate, 2--3 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--6 at distal nodes; petiole 0.8--2 cm; leaf blade obovate-elliptic, oblanceolate, or elliptic, 5--15 × 2--5 cm, leathery to thickly leathery, midvein adaxially slightly impressed, secondary veins 5--8 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces inconspicuous or slightly prominent, base attenuate to cuneate, apex cuspidate to shortly acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 1.5--4 cm. Tepals 7--12, pink to dark red, broadly elliptic to broadly ovate (largest), 0.9--1.2 × 0.8--1.2 cm (largest). Stamens (11--)13--14(--20), 1.8--3.5 mm; filaments 0.5--1.6 mm; connectives truncate; anthers 1--1.5 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels usually 7--9(--11), 2.5--4.5 mm; ovary 1.2--2 mm; style longer than ovary. Fruit peduncle 2--5.5 cm. Fruit with ca. 8 follicles; follicles 1.4--2 × 0.7--1/2 × 0.3--0.6 cm. Seeds 7--10 × 4--6 × 2.5--3 mm. Fl. Mar--May and Aug--Oct, fr. Sep‑-Oct and Mar--Apr. 2n = 28.
* Forests; 200--1600 m. S and W Guangxi.
Cultivated for perfume, medicines, and as a culinary spice in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Yunnan as well as in Vietnam. It is uncertain if the plants in Guangxi are actually wild or naturalized and where the species is really native.
24. Illicium oligandrum Merrill & Chun, Sunyatsenia 5: 57. 1940.
少药八角 shao yao ba jiao
Illicium parvifolium Merrill subsp. oligandrum (Merrill & Chun) Q. Lin.
Trees to 12 m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 5--12 mm; leaf blade oblong-obovate to elliptic, 4--9 × 1.5--3.7 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially ± flat but slightly impressed towards base, secondary veins 4--6 on each side of midvein and inconspicuous, base narrowly cuneate, apex obtuse to rounded. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 0.9--1.5 cm. Tepals 11--18, greenish yellow to pale yellow, reniform to suborbicular (outer) to elliptic to obovate-elliptic (largest), 5--7(--10) × 4.5--5.5(--9) mm (largest), papery (outer) to slightly fleshy (inner). Stamens 4--7, 2.5--3.2 mm; filaments 1.3--2 mm; connectives truncate to emarginate; anthers 1--1.2 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 8 or 9, 2.5--3 mm; ovary 1.3--1.5 mm; style as long as ovary. Fruit and seeds not seen. Fl. May--Oct, Jan.
* Forests, thickets; 700--1200 m. Guangxi, Hainan.
Timber.
25. Illicium merrillianum A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 67. 1947.
滇西八角 dian xi ba jiao
Small trees. Perules lanceolate, 5--7 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.6--1.5 cm; leaf blade elliptic to lanceolate, 8--12.5 × 2--5 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially conspicuously impressed, secondary veins 6--11 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces flat or slightly prominent, base narrowly cuneate, apex acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 2--4 cm. Tepals 15--20, cherry red, elliptic (largest), 7--10 × 5--7.5 mm (largest). Stamens 14--19, 2.5--4 mm; filaments 1.5--2.7 mm; connectives inconspicuously truncate; anthers 1--1.3 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels ca. 8, 3.5--4.5 mm; ovary 1.5--2.2 mm; style 1.8--2.5 mm. Fruit peduncle length unknown. Fruit with (5--)8 follicles; follicles ca. 12 × 5 × 2 mm. Seeds 4‑-5 × 3--4 × ca. 2 mm. Fl. Dec--Jan and Mar--May, fr. Jul--Sep.
Forests, wet places; 1500--2900 m. W Yunnan [Myanmar].
26. Illicium micranthum Dunn, Hooker’s Icon. Pl. 28: t. 2714. 1901.
小花八角 xiao hua ba jiao
Illicium jinyunensis Z. He; I. wangii Hu.
Shrubs or trees, to 10 m tall. Perules small, inconspicuous. Leaves in clusters of 3--5 at distal nodes; petiole 4--12 mm; leaf blade obovate-elliptic, narrowly oblong-elliptic, or lanceolate, 4--11 × 1.3--4 cm, thinly leathery to leathery, midvein adaxially impressed, secondary veins 5--10 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces inconspicuous or slightly prominent, base cuneate, apex usually caudate-acuminate to acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 0.7--2.8 cm. Tepals (14--)17--21, red to orangish red, elliptic (largest), 5‑-8 × 3.5--8 mm (largest). Stamens (8--)10--12, 2.5--3.5 mm; filament lengths unknown; connectives truncate to emarginate; anthers 0.8--1.3 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 7 or 8, 2.3--3.2 mm; ovary 1.3--1.7 mm; style 1--1.5 mm. Fruit peduncle 2.8--3.5 cm. Fruit with 6--8 follicles; follicles 9--14 × 3--7 × 2--3.5 mm. Seeds 4.5--5 × 3--3.5 × ca. 2 mm. Fl. Apr--Jun, fr. Jul--Sep.
* Thickets, mixed forests, ravines; 500--2600 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan.
27. Illicium petelotii A. C. Smith, Sargentia 7: 76. 1947.
少果八角 shao guo ba jiao
Shrubs or trees, to 6 m tall. Perules oblong, 3--5 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3--6 at distal nodes; petiole 0.5--1.5 cm; leaf blade oblong-elliptic to narrowly obovate, 6--14 × 1.8--4.2 cm, thinly leathery to papery, midvein adaxially slightly impressed, secondary veins 6--12 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces slightly prominent, base narrowly to broadly cuneate, apex acuminate to shortly caudate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle 0.5--4.5 cm. Tepals 10--13, dark red, elliptic to obovate (largest), 6--8 × 4--6.5 mm (largest). Stamens 9--14, 2.2--3.5 mm; filaments 1.4--2.4 mm; connectives obtuse to emarginate; anthers 0.8--1.2 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 4--8, 2.3--3.2 mm; ovary 1.2--1.8 mm; style 1--1.5 mm. Fruit peduncle length unknown. Fruit with (2--)5--7 follicles; follicles 14--15 × ca. 6 × ca. 3.5 mm. Seeds ca. 6 × 4.5 × 3 mm. Fl. Mar--Apr, fr. Aug--Sep.
Forests; 1500--2000 m. SE Yunnan [Vietnam].