{"url":"https://treescape.app/api/genera/illicium/?format=json","slug":"illicium","latin_name":"Illicium","description":"Illicium verum (star anise or badian, Chinese star anise, star anise seed, star aniseed and star of anise) is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to northeast Vietnam and South China. It is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor and is obtained from the star-shaped pericarps of the fruit of I. verum which are harvested just before ripening. Star anise oil is a highly fragrant oil used in cooking, perfumery, soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skin creams. Until 2012, when they switched to using genetically modified E. coli, Roche Pharmaceuticals used up to 90% of the world's annual star anise crop to produce oseltamivir (Tamiflu) via shikimic acid.","gbif_id":2889755,"image_thumbnail":"https://treescape.app/media/plant_species/images/thumbnails/illicium_thumbnail_CC79DV1.jpg","image_large":"https://treescape.app/media/plant_species/images/large/illicium_thumbnail_LUxeuEY.jpg"}