SC - Anise & Fennel

[Angie Malone]

Hmmm...This is an interesting.  It says that the seeds are toxic.  I have
anise seeds, yes I am absolutely sure they are anise seeds in my spice
closet that we use for something.  When I say absolutely sure that's what
the label says. (I don't know because my mom bought them.--Apparently she
used them  for a lot of stuff because it is a large spice bottle, the kind
you get at Sam's Club).  We also have fennel seeds, which we use for a lot
of things but especially when we make italian sausage.

The seeds are the same sort of shape as the fennel seeds.  When I go home
tonight I am going to investigate how different they look and how they
smell, etc.  

	Angeline

>ILLICIUM
>Illiciaceae
>Genus of about 40 species of aromatic, evergreen shrubs and trees from 
>woodland in S.E. Asia, S.E. US, and the West Indies.  They are cultivated 
>for their thick glossy leaves, borne alternately or in near-whorls, their 
>unusual flowers, which are composed of numerous tepals; and their woody 
>star-shaped fruits.  Where temperatures fall below 23 degrees F (-5 C), 
>grow in a cool greenhouse.  Elsewhere, grow in a woodlnd garden or shrub 
>border.  Seeds of I anisatum are toxic if ingested.
>((There is more information about Cultivation, Propagation, Pests and 
>Diseases, and variations of the species.)
>The species I think most of us are familiar with is Star Anise:
>I. verum (Chinese anise, Star anise) Small, rounded, evergreen tree with 
>inversely lance shaped to narrowly elliptic, sharply tapered, glossy, dark 
>green leaves, to 6 in (15 cm) long.  Star-shaped flowers, 1/2 in (1.5 cm) 
>across, with pink or red -flushed yellow tepals, are borne in ealry summer, 
>followed by glossy, red-brown fruit. 60 ft. (18m) tall by 20 ft. (6m). 
>China, Vietnam, Zones 7-9.
>
>There.  have I FINALLY been able to contribute something USEFUL to this
list???
>-Laurene
>
>