32. Illicium Griffithii

The medicinal plant Illicium Griffithii is a member of the Magnoliaceae (magnolia) family. This page includes its habitat, botanical descption, medicinal uses (eg., Ayurveda), chemical constituents and history of use in modern and ancient India.

Vernacular:—Badayan (Marathi).

Habitat:—Bhotan; Khasia hills.

Botanical description:—A shrub.

Branches: angular, glabrous.

Leaves: elliptic-lanceolate, 2-4 by 1-2 in., acute at both ends, coriaceous, shining.

Flowers: 1½ in. diam.

Perianth—segments: about 24.

Sepals: 6, orbicular.

Petals: 18, outer oval, inner smaller, narrow.

Carpels: with a thin fleshy pericarp, woody endocarp, and short subulate incurved beak (Hooker).

Copses in Bhutan and the Khasia Hills, 4-5,000 ft.

Medicinal uses:—The authors of Pharmaeographia Indica, (Vol. 1. p. 40) write that it occasionally finds its way into the market. It is used as a substitute for Illicium verum which is a native of Cochin-China. Star-anise is aromatic, stimulant and carminative.

“The fruit of Illicium Griffithii would appear to contain some bitter principle as well as tannin.” (Pharmaeographia Indica, Vol. I. p. 41).