Illicium simonsii, commonly known as Simon's anise tree, is a species of flowering plant in the family Schisandraceae. It is a shrub or tree with leathery leaves, and pale yellow to white tepals. The leaves, flowers and fruit are toxic. The species is native to India, China, and Myanmar.
Illicium simonsii was described in 1888, and is listed as of Least Concern by the IUCN.
Taxonomy The species was described by Karl Maximovich in 1888.
Distribution Illicium simonsii is native to the temperate biome of India (Assam), China (Yunnan, western Guizhou, and south-west Sichuan), and Myanmar. Its estimated extent of occurrence is .
Illicium simonsii grows on well-drained acidic loam or sand, in thickets, forests, open fields, ravines, and wet places along rivers. It is present at elevations of . The species grows in full sun or partial shade.
Description Illicium simonsii is a relatively hardy evergreen shrub or tree. It usually grows up to high.
The leaves are in clusters of three to five. The leaves are leathery, lanceolate to elliptical, long, and wide. The leaf stem is long.
The flower stems are long. The flowers have eighteen to twenty-three tepals, which are pale yellow, creamy, white, or rarely pink. The outer tepals are elliptical-oblong, and thinly papery. The flowers have sixteen to eighteen stamens, and eight to thirteen carpels. The plant flowers during most of the year, but mostly from February to May.
The fruits grow on stems. The seeds are long. The plant fruits from June to October.
The leaves, flowers, and fruit are all highly toxic.
Conservation In 2018, the IUCN assessed Illicium simonsii as of Least Concern. The population is large, and faces no major threats.
Nomenclature In English, Illicium simonsii is commonly known as Simon's anise tree.
In Chinese, the species is known as () or ().
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