1, the shape is different: the true octagonal petal looks very fat, with 8 corners, and it is relatively round and blunt, with straight corners; Illicium verum (Illicium verum) is relatively thin, with 1 1- 13 sharp corners, which are sharp and curved.

2, the color is different: the true star anise is brownish red and looks shiny; The false star anise (mangcao) is light in color, khaki in color and has poor luster.

3, the taste is different: the real star anise is sweet in the mouth, and it is very mellow. The fake star anise (wild grass) is a bit like the taste of toilet water. It is bitter and sour in the mouth, and the tongue has a numbness.

4. The extra corner of the fake star anise may be broken: check whether there is the fake star anise mentioned above in your kitchen, and if there is, throw it away quickly. The fake star anise is poisonous.

5, the price is not the same: the price of wild grass is almost half that of star anise, and the market price of star anise has a unified standard. Once the price is found to be very low, it is necessary to pay attention to it and carefully consider it to prevent it from buying fakes cheaply.

Extended data:

Illicium verum, the scientific name of Illicium verum, is mostly shriveled or broken when it is flat. After flattening, the intact ones are lanceolate, oblanceolate or oval, with a length of 6- 15cm and a width of1.5-4.5 cm, with a narrow wedge-shaped base and slightly rolled edges. Green on both sides, slightly lighter below; The petiole is 7- 15mm long. Strong fragrance, pungent taste and toxicity.

Taiwan Province, Guangdong, Guangxi and Guizhou. Born on hillsides, valleys or under trees and bushes. India, Indo-China Peninsula, Indonesia and new guinea are distributed. Introduction to North America. The type specimens were collected from India.

Branches, leaves, roots and fruits are all toxic, and fruits, especially fruit shells, are highly toxic. Poisoning by mang grass is mostly caused by mistaking its fruit for anise. Its toxic effect is to directly stimulate the digestive tract mucosa, which is absorbed into diencephalon and medulla oblongata through the digestive tract, making the respiratory center and vascular motor center dysfunctional, paralyzing motor nerve endings, and seriously damaging the brain.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Mangcao