Illicium majus
| Illicium majus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Austrobaileyales |
| Family: | Schisandraceae |
| Genus: | Illicium |
| Species: | I. majus |
| Binomial name | |
| Illicium majus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Illicium majus is a species of flowering plant in the family Schisandraceae. It is a tree with subleathery leaves and poisonous fruits. The species is native to China, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
Illicium majus was described in 1872, and is listed as of Least Concern by the IUCN.
Taxonomy
Illicium majus was described by Joseph Dalton Hooker and Thomas Thomson in 1872.[3]
Distribution
Illicium majus is native to the subtropical biome of Vietnam, southern Myanmar, and south-east and south-central China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, and Yunnan).[2][4] It has an estimated extent of occurrence of 1,325,389.57 square kilometres (511,735.77 sq mi).[1]
The species grows in mixed forests, thickets, on rocky slopes, and along riverbanks, at elevations of 300–2,500 metres (980–8,200 ft).[4]
Description
Illicium majus is a tree up to 20 metres (66 ft) tall. The bark is poisonous. The leaves are in clusters of three to six, subleathery, oblong-lanceolate to oblanceolate, 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9 in) long, and 2.5–7 centimetres (0.98–2.76 in) wide. The leaf stems are 1–2.5 centimetres (0.39–0.98 in) long.[4]
The flower stems are 1.8–4.5 centimetres (0.71–1.77 in) long. The flowers have fifteen to twenty-one fleshy tepals. The inner tepals are elliptic to obovate-oblong, 6–15 millimetres (0.24–0.59 in) long, and 3–9 millimetres (0.12–0.35 in) wide. The flowers have twelve to twenty-one stamens, and eleven to fourteen carpels. The plant flowers from April to June.[4]
The fruits have 1.8–4.5 centimetres (0.71–1.77 in) stems. The plant fruits from July to October. The fruit is poisonous.[4]
Conservation
In 2018, the IUCN assessed Illicium majus as of Least Concern. The species has a large population, wide distribution, and faces no significant threats.[1]
Nomenclature
In Chinese, the species is known as 大八角 (da ba jiao).[5]
References
- 1 2 3 Yu, S.-X.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI); IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Illicium majus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T147368976A147629939. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T147368976A147629939.en. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 "Illicium majus". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ "Illicium majus Hook.f. & Thomson". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Illicium majus J. D. Hooker & Thomson in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India. 1: 40. 1872". Efloras.org. Flora of China. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "Illicium majus Hook.fil. & Thomson". CatalogueOfLife.org. Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
External links
Media related to Illicium majus at Wikimedia Commons