Illicium verum Hook.f is also known as anise, star anise and anise. As an evergreen tree of Magnoliaceae, it is one of the precious economic trees in the south subtropical region of China. Illicium verum oil is one of the main perennial export commodities in China's foreign trade, and its export volume is very large over the years, accounting for 80-90% of the world market. It mainly produces Longzhou, Ningming, Daxin, Tiandeng, Debao, Baise and Fangcheng counties in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and has been cultivated for more than 300 years. In addition, it is also cultivated in Guangnan, Wenshan, Hekou, Pingbian and other places in Yunnan Province, as well as in Guangdong and Fujian. Use fruit as medicine. Fruits, branches and leaves contain volatile oil, the main components of which are anethole, methyl piperol, anisaldehyde, anisone, safrole, pinene, l- cresylene, etc., in addition to fatty oil, protein, sugar, etc. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is the raw material for synthesizing the female hormone Hexestrol. Pharmacological action: the inhibitory effect of alcohol extract on gram-positive bacteria is similar to that of penicillin potassium salt, and that on gram-negative bacteria is similar to that of streptomycin sulfate, and that on fungi is greater than that of benzoic acid and salicylic acid. Sweet and sweet, warm in nature. It has the functions of dispelling cold and dampness, regulating qi and relieving pain, and regulating stomach. Treat hernia pain, cold pain in the waist, bloating in the stomach and vomiting caused by cold. It can be used as a corrective in cough medicine.

I. Morphological characteristics

Gundam10-15m, DBH 30cm. The trunk is straight, the bark of the mature tree is grayish white and slightly rough, and the bark of the old tree is grayish brown with irregular shallow cracks. Leaves alternate or clustered with 3-6 leaves, leathery, 5.5-10.5 cm long and about1.6-4.5 cm wide, elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic-obovate, entire, dark green on the surface, bright and hairless, and light green on the back. Flowers bisexual, solitary leaf axils; Pedicel is about 1.5cm long, perianth is 8-12 pieces, pink or crimson, arranged in 2-3 rounds; Stamens15-19; Carpels are usually 8, free and arranged in a wheel. The fruit is mostly octagonal, the fresh fruit is green, the dried fruit turns to brownish red, the diameter is about 3.5cm, and the fruit is broken when it is ripe. The seeds are glossy, oval and brown (Figure 15— 1).

Fig.15 ——1Illicium verum L.

1. Fruit branch 2. Flower

Second, biological characteristics

(A) growth and development characteristics

The growth and development of Illicium verum can be divided into three stages: the first stage is the young forest stage, that is, it takes about13-15 years from the seedling planting to the formation of the forest crown, and the first eight years of this stage are a simple growth stage, and the last seven years are a stage of growing while bearing fruit. The whole stage is that the growth potential energy is greater than the bearing potential energy, which is beneficial to the formation of the crown. However, in recent years, it has been found that the seedlings of Illicium verum L. bloom generally 2-3 years after planting in Guangxi Illicium verum L. production area, which fully shows that the young forest period can be shortened by adopting advanced comprehensive technical measures for afforestation. The second stage is the strong age, that is, the flowering and fruiting period. The development of fruit branches and the expansion of crown are mainly completed year by year in this stage, and the duration of the flowering and fruiting period depends on the site conditions and the intensive degree of tending management. In the production areas with good site conditions and high management level, the flourishing period of Illicium verum can last for 60-70 years. On the contrary, in places where site conditions are poor and tending management can't keep up, the yield will drop significantly after 30 years. The third stage is the aging period, which shows that the growth potential of the tree declines year by year, the fruit branches gradually wither, the crown is destroyed, and the yield begins to decline. The site conditions are good and can last for 50-60 years, otherwise, it will age and die in 30 years.

(2) Shooting

The main branches of Illicium verum shoot 2-3 times a year, and the leaf buds of spring shoots germinate in mid-February, and the Ye Sheng stage appears in early March; Summer shoots germinate in late April; Autumn shoots are pulled out in early August; Generally, the lateral branches (long fruit branches) only shoot once a year in early March.

(3) Flowering and fruiting

The flowering and fruiting law of Illicium verum has been observed by Guangxi Forestry Research Institute and other units for many years, and it has been confirmed that the two fruits of Illicium verum in that year were formed after flowering and fertilization in July-11month of the previous year, that is, they only bloom once a year and bear two fruits.

The spring fruit (also called "hornflower or small fruit-making") that matures from March to April is the first flower that bloomed before mid-August of last year. At this time, it is summer and autumn, when the water and heat conditions are sufficient and the trees are rich in nutrients. The ovary begins to develop after fertilization, which makes the dry petals fall early, and the young fruit grows up after 8 months and matures in early April of the following year. Due to the influence of the dry climate in late autumn and early winter, the fruit is thin and the seeds develop. The autumn fruit (also known as "big fruit" or "big red fruit") that matured in 10 was fertilized and developed by the flowers after the full flowering period in mid-August of last year. At this time, it was late autumn and early winter, and the climate was dry and cold. The tree also consumed too much nutrition due to the development of spring fruit and a large number of flowers, and the young fruit grew slowly or stopped growing. After the petals dried up, the young fruit was tightly wrapped to protect the young fruit from dormancy and overwintering. When the temperature rises to 15℃ in February-March of the following year, the young fruit continues to develop, and at this time, the factor room expands, causing the dried petals to fall off (this sign is easily mistaken by investigators as just after the full flowering period, which leads to a lot of bloom's wrong judgment in March-April), and it grows in spring, summer and autumn until it matures in the middle and late of 10. The fruits in this period are full and fat, with good quality, high germination rate and large quantity, usually accounting for 80-90% of the total output.

(4) Requirements for environmental conditions

1. temperature

Illicium verum is a tropical and subtropical tree species, mainly distributed in mountainous areas south of 25 30 ′ north latitude. According to the table15-1,the annual average temperature in the distribution area is19-23℃, the Leng Yue average temperature is not lower than 10℃, and the absolute minimum temperature is-. Extreme low temperature has a very significant effect on the growth and yield of Illicium verum. When the temperature drops to 0℃, the fruit stalks of overwintering spring fruits are damaged, and many pods are missing and fall off early. When the temperature is -2℃, the spring fruit is frozen to death, and the small fruit is not harvested. The dormant and overwintering autumn fruit is partially damaged, forming a pod; When the temperature is -3℃, the autumn shoots of seedlings and young trees are damaged, and the whole plant is seriously frozen to death; When the temperature is -4℃, most of the autumn fruits are frozen to death, resulting in large fruit production and reduced production, and in severe cases, no grain is harvested; When the temperature is -6℃, the branches are damaged and some plants die. The absolute low temperature in the newly-built octagonal forest area should not be lower than -6℃, otherwise the cold damage will be serious, and the octagonal moves northward, so the critical value of suitable temperature should be considered first.

Table15 ——1Meteorological data of three climatic zones

Materials are quoted from: Huang Zhuomin, Yang Yaoqing, Compilation of Guangxi Illicium verum Variety Resources Survey, 1986, 2. Moisture.

Illicium verum not only needs warm climate, but also needs abundant rainfall. From the table15-1,the annual rainfall and relative humidity in general producing areas are above 1300mm and 78% respectively. Although the rainfall distribution is not uniform in all parts of the production area, under the influence of complex mountainous terrain and dense vegetation, the sunshine time in mountainous areas is shorter, the number of cloudy days and clouds are more, and the soil moisture and air humidity are higher, and the octagonal is not affected by autumn drought and spring drought.

Step 3 light

Illicium verum is a shade-tolerant tree species, but in different growth stages, the requirements for light are different. Young trees like shade, while adult trees like light, so it is necessary to set up a shade shed or insert Miscanthus ferruginea in the seedbed for shade during the seedling raising period. If the shade is not provided or the light transmission is too large, the seedlings will grow poorly, the leaves will turn yellow and the whole plant will die. It is necessary to keep some miscellaneous shrubs as shade trees in the young forest land, and cut the shade trees after the Illicium verum is planted, because the development of flower bud differentiation and fruit branches needs enough sunshine to blossom and bear fruit normally.

4. Soil

Illicium verum grows best in acidic soil or sandy loam with deep and loose soil layer, rich humus content and good drainage. Where the climate is dry, the soil layer is shallow, and the soil is thin and barren, it grows poorly and bears little fruit. Illicium verum is a tree species in acidic soil, which is not suitable for growing in calcareous soil.

Third, cultivation techniques

(1) Variety

The quality of varieties and management is directly related to the output of Illicium verum. Therefore, it is an important task to select superior trees, build clonal scion nursery and superior tree seed orchard, provide improved varieties for Illicium verum production and realize improved varieties as soon as possible.

According to the research achievement "Guangxi Illicium verum Variety Resources and Capital Materials Compilation" of Guangxi Institute of Forestry Science and other units 1986, Illicium verum in China is preliminarily divided into four species groups *** 17 varieties, and the characteristics of these varieties are as follows:

1. Illicium rubrum variety group

(1) Illicium verum

It is an excellent variety with wide distribution, strong adaptability and high yield. Flowers are red, sepals are 3-4, petals are light green, petals are 7-9, imbricate, stamens12-22, anthers are pink, imbricate in 2-3 rounds, pistils are 8, follicles are 8, arranged in a star shape, and the fruit diameter is 2.5-3.4 cm.

(2) Illicium verum Bunge

It is an excellent variety. The crown is nearly cylindrical or oblong-conical, with small branching angle, slender and dense branchlets, soft and drooping like willow branches, dense branches and leaves, compact tree structure, a large number of fruit-bearing skeleton foundations and conditions for making full use of light energy, harmonious proportion of fruiting branches and vegetative branches, and high yield per plant. The fruit is fat, the stalk is 3.0-4.8 cm long, and the oil content is high and the oil quality is good.

(3) Illicium rubrum

Strong resistance to pests and diseases, the difference from common safflower anise is that the flower stalk, calyx, petals and fruit ridge are all red. The tree shape and tree structure are not good, the yield per plant is low and the oil content is low, so it is not suitable for popularization in production.

(4) Illicium verum

It is an excellent variety, with tall trees, dense branches and leaves, high yield per plant, large fruit, fruit diameter greater than 4cm, fruit thickness above 1. 1cm, and fresh fruit per kilogram100-140. High oil content and strong disease resistance.

(5) Illicium verum Bunge

It is an excellent variety, with about 2/kloc-0 per stamen, 9-13 pistils and 9-13 follicles. The petals are uneven in size, arranged regularly or piled up on the base of the fruit stalk.

(6) Illicium verum

It is an excellent variety, with 8 fruits, and the apex of the fruit is gradually pointed and hooked inward, which looks like an eagle's mouth.

(7) Illicium verum

In order to make use of varieties with low value, the eight characters are fresh and fragrant, with high content of anethole, regular fruit shape with eight petals, fruit diameter less than 2.5cm, and about 400 fresh fruits per kilogram.

(8) Illicium verum Thunb.

In order to make use of low-value varieties, the leaf thickness is more than twice that of common safflower and Illicium verum, and it is leathery, dark green, sparse and bears few fruits.

(9) Short star anise

In order to make use of low-value varieties, but they can be used as dwarfing rootstocks, the plants are naturally dwarfed, the height of the trees is below 8m, the branches are low, the crown is large, the lateral branches are long, there are many branchlets, and the leaves are thin and leathery.

2. Illicium verum var. lilacinum

(10) Illicium verum

It is a better variety. 6-9 petals, pale red or with white center and red edge, arranged in 2-3 rounds of shingles, with stamens10-21piece, anthers pale red to light yellow, 8 pistils and 8 follicles, arranged in a regular star shape, with different fruit stalks and tender leaves.

(1 1) Illicium verum L.

It is a general fine variety. Flowers are pale red, with 9-13 follicles and 3.5-4.5 cmp in diameter, which are arranged in a star shape or piled up on the base of the fruit stalk. Other characteristics are the same as those of Illicium verum.

(12) Illicium verum Bunge

It is an excellent variety. The flowers are pale red, and the branching characteristics are similar to those of Illicium verum, and other characteristics are the same as those of Illicium verum.

(13) Illicium verum Thunb.

In ord to utilize varieties with low value. The flowers are pale red, and the leaves are more than twice as thick as the general octagonal leaves.

3. Illicium verum varieties group

(14) Illicium verum

It is a better variety. Flowers are white, with 2-4 calyx, light green, petals 7-10, 3-4 rounds of imbricate arrangement, stamens12-17, light yellow, a few pink, and 8 follicles, octagonal.

(15) Illicium verum

It is an excellent variety. The flowers are white, the branch characteristics are similar to those of Illicium verum, and other characteristics are the same as those of Illicium verum.

(16) Illicium polycarpum

It is a general fine variety. The flowers are white, the fruit characteristics are similar to those of Illicium verum, and other characteristics are the same as those of Illicium verum.

4. Illicium verum variety group

(17) Illicium verum

It is not suitable for popularization in production, but it is bright in color and yellow for viewing. Calyx 3-4, light green, petals10-10, stamens14-16, pistils 7-10, and pods 7-.

(2) Breeding method

1. Seed collection and seed treatment

It is necessary to choose the mature tree with developed crown, many fruits, excellent quality and no pests and diseases as the seed-reserved mother tree. Illicium verum has a long flowering period and a long fruit ripening period. A large number of fruits ripen in late 10, and the fruits are harvested before cracking. When the seed matures, the peel color changes from green to yellow-brown, and the seed coat has a certain luster, and it is full and full, with the strongest germination ability, less water content and easy storage. Pick seeds with wooden hooks and fruits by hand. You can't pick seeds by tapping or shaking with bamboo poles. Pay attention to protecting mother trees.

There are about 160 fresh fruits per kilogram of Illicium verum in autumn, and the fruits of mature trees are full and big, with about 80-90 fruits per kilogram. Generally, every 100kg of fresh fruits can peel seeds18-24kg, and the 1000-grain weight is1/kloc.

After the seeds are harvested, they are spread out indoors to dry, often turned over, and the seeds are removed to remove impurities. Because the seed coat of Illicium verum is dry and the seeds contain volatile oil, when exposed to sunlight or placed in a ventilated place, the oil is easy to volatilize, too wet and perishable, and it is easy to lose germination ability, so it is suitable to sow with the harvest. If the seedlings are not raised immediately, but are sown in the following spring or transported for a long distance, they must be properly stored. Generally, the seed treatment method is to mix the seeds with 3-4 times of yellow soil and a little water, so that each seed is wrapped with a layer of yellow soil, and stored in the shade until it is taken out when sowing. During storage, it is necessary to check frequently and pay attention to heat protection, rodent prevention and moisture preservation.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Nursery land should choose a place with sufficient water, fertile soil, shady environment, good water utilization, free from mountain torrents and improper western sun exposure. The requirements of soil preparation are comprehensive ploughing, uniform soil breaking, removal of grass roots and stones, and leveling of the border. In the first autumn and winter of raw wasteland, the land should be ploughed deeply, and the new and old nursery land should be plowed three times and harrowed three times, and sufficient base fertilizer should be applied in combination with ploughing and ploughing. Border width1m. The height of the border is 20cm, and the width of the border is 30cm. Drainage ditches should be excavated in the center and around the nursery to facilitate drainage and waterlogging prevention.

It is better to sow in autumn in11February in areas with no or little frost in winter in southern Guangxi, and in areas with frost in winter in central and northern Guangxi, it is better to sow in spring in1-February, but almost all seeds will not germinate when the sowing date is delayed to March or early April.

Generally, drilling is adopted, which is convenient for tending and management, and the seedlings grow healthily. The row spacing is15-20 cm, and the sowing ditch should be flat and tidy. The sowing ditch is 4cm deep, and one seed should be planted at the spacing of 3-4 cm. After sowing, cover it with burnt turf mixed with fine soil, with a thickness of about 3cm. In order to prevent soil drying and rain from washing the border surface, ensure rapid and orderly germination and inhibit weed growth, cover it with straw or thatch after sowing.

Strengthening the field management of nursery is the key to cultivate strong seedlings, which must be carefully managed. Before the sprouts are unearthed, water should be sprayed frequently to promote the germination of the seeds, especially the Illicium verum, which is vulnerable to sunburn. After the mulch is removed, it should be shaded immediately (the sunshine time is not long and the forest is tending, so it is generally not necessary to shade). Shading shed can be built, and it can be removed until 1 1 month. Nursery should often carry out intertillage weeding to keep the soil loose and free of weeds. The frequency of loosening soil and weeding should be determined according to the soil, climate and weed breeding. Topdressing began when the seedling height was 3-4 cm. Topdressing can be combined with intertillage weeding, and nitrogen fertilizer is mainly applied in the early stage to accelerate the growth of seedlings; In the later stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer were mainly applied to promote the seedling health. In the second and third years, we need intertillage weeding, topdressing and thinning seedlings. 1 annual seedling height is 30-45—60cm, 2-year seedling height is 45-60 cm, and 3-year seedling height is more than1.3m..

(3) land selection and land preparation

In the selection of afforestation sites, according to the principle of suitable land and suitable trees, it is appropriate to choose slightly acidic soil developed by parent rocks such as sand shale and granite, and the soil layer is deep, fertile, loose and moist sandy loam to light clay. However, calcareous soil and calcareous mountain areas are not suitable for selection, and the shallow and dry soil, even acidic soil, is not well-grown, so it is not suitable for selection. Terrain selection, it is better to afforest on the east slope, the low mountains in the northeast slope and the middle and lower slopes in Zhongshan, while the west slope is too sunny to choose.

For land preparation methods, it is advisable to fully cultivate on gentle slopes, soil layer bonding or dense shrubs and weeds; on steep slopes, soft soil or sparse shrubs and weeds, it is advisable to take reclamation or hole reclamation; the full reclamation should be used as a water and soil conservation ridge and drainage ditch; the land reclamation should be used as a step, and the hole reclamation should dig open holes. Generally, land preparation and tree pit digging should be carried out half a year before afforestation, with the length and width of the tree pit being 0.5m and the depth of the pit being 0.4m. After digging the pit, it can be returned to the soil and prepared early.

(4) Transplanting

The planting density of seedlings varies with the management purpose. One is the fruit forest for producing Illicium verum, and the planting density is generally about 5m between rows and plants, with 26 plants per mu. The other is a leaf forest for the purpose of producing steam oil, with a row-to-row spacing of about 1.33m and 375 plants per mu.

Determine the principle of sparse and dense afforestation, which is slightly sparse in large mountainous areas and slightly dense in hilly areas; The fertile soil is slightly thinner and the thin soil is slightly denser; The foot of the mountain is slightly thinner, and Zhongshan is slightly denser.

Afforestation method: 2-year-old seedlings for fruit forest and 3-year-old seedlings for leaf forest. In the afforestation season, before the new buds sprout in February, the seedlings should be closely connected with afforestation, which is a key process that affects the success or failure of afforestation. Illicium verum is an evergreen tree, and large seedlings are planted, and 3/4 of each leaf and most of the lateral branches are cut off to reduce leaf evaporation. Yellow mud roots, and seize the rainy days for afforestation. If the nursery is far away from the afforestation site, the afforestation task is heavy, and it encounters dry weather, the afforestation method can be used, that is, the seedlings are cut off from the rhizosphere 10cm (fruit forest) or 130cm (leaf forest) two weeks before afforestation. Because of the strong germination in seedling stage, new buds can germinate after 20 days, which can improve the survival rate of afforestation.

(5) Field management

After afforestation, intercropping crops in young forest is a successful experience, which can increase soil fertility, reduce tending labor, promote the growth of young Illicium verum forest, increase economic benefits and make full use of land. Generally, it can be intercropped for 3 years, and then, the soil will be turned over once every 3-5 years, and it will enter the fruiting period when it is 10, and the grass will be mowed twice a year, the first time before the fruit falls off in spring, and the second time before the fruit is picked in September after autumn. Mowing and tending is to cut all weeds and shrubs under the forest with a sickle and move them out of the forest to pick up the spring fruit and harvest the autumn fruit.

In the first two years of afforestation, the leaf forest can be planted with crops alternately, and then it must be plowed, ridged and fertilized once every year before the peak growth period, which can last for 30-40 years. Otherwise, it will lose its germination ability and die in 2-3 years.

(6) Pests and diseases and their prevention and control

1. Anthracnose

（Colletotrichum sp.）

It mainly harms leaves, fruits and stems of Manglietia miaomu, and annual seedlings below 0.5m are vulnerable. This disease is harmful all the year round. During the onset period, there is much rain, and the disease develops rapidly. Prevention and control methods: choose the land with good drainage, good air circulation and far away from big trees as nursery; Seeds should be disinfected to reduce the primary infection after overwintering, and the residues of diseased plants should be removed in time. 1∶ 1∶200 times of bordeaux mixture can be sprayed during the disease occurrence period.

2.inchworm

（Dilophodes elegans sinica Prout）

There are 4-5 generations a year. In southern Guangxi, the larvae damage Illicium verum leaves from 3-11month, and September-1month is the most serious season. The control methods must be mastered by using 800 times of 90% trichlorfon, or 80% dichlorvos emulsion 1500 times, or marathon 1000 times, and at the same time, with manual killing, good control effects can be achieved.

3. golden flower worm

（Oides leucomelaena Weise.）

Every year, the first generation overwinters in the axils of leaves, and the larvae hatch in March of the following year, molt and pupate in April, emerge as adults in May, and lay eggs in the axils of leaves in July, which is harmful to leaves and buds. In light cases, the growth of Illicium verum is poor, and the yield of Illicium verum is reduced. After the leaves are eaten seriously, the tree will die. Control method: (1) spray 90% trichlorfon or 80% dichlorvos emulsion or 50% marathon emulsion to kill adults 500-600 times; (2) fumigation with "62 1" smoke agent; (3) spraying Beauveria bassiana powder in the larval stage to make it infected to death; (4) artificial killing, or using its suspended animation and light-loving, collecting and killing with bamboo bags, etc.

Fourth, harvesting and processing

(1) Harvest

The spring fruit of Illicium verum is ripe in April. When the fruit is ripe and falls to the ground, it is picked up from the ground, dried after recovery and stored in a dry place. Because of the low yield of spring fruit, it is not worth artificial picking on the tree.

Autumn fruit is a big fruit, which is harvested at10-1month, accounting for more than 90% of the total annual output, and each plant can produce 50-100 kg of fruit, so a large number of labor forces should be mobilized for harvesting. Therefore, there are ripe fruits, young fruits and blooming flowers on the tree. When picking seeds, you can neither beat with bamboo poles, nor shake branches or break branches, so you have to hook branches on the tree with wooden hooks and pick ripe fruits by hand.

The oil content of leaves is more in old leaves and less in young leaves. In the harvest season, usually after autumn, the old branches and leaves that have been collected for more than one year are distilled as they are collected.

(2) Processing

After the fruit is harvested, the raw fruit is boiled in a boiling water pot and stirred with a wooden stick for about 5-10 minutes, and then it is taken out immediately and placed on a bamboo mat frame for insolation and drying or dried indoors with charcoal fire, so that the dried star anise has good quality and strong fragrance.

The distillation processing of branch oil can produce 0.7-0.9 kg of oil per 100kg of fresh leaves.