in botany: A genus of the pentagyenia order, belonging to the dodecadria clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking with those of which the order is doubtful. The calyx is tetraphyllous, and deciduous; there are eight petals, and eight petaloid subulate neotaria. There are 16 stamina with bifid anthers; the capsules are ovate, compressed, and monoecious. There are two species, viz. 1. The floridanum, with red flowers, and very odoriferous fruit. It is a native of China. 2. The anatatum, a native of the woods of China and Japan. It rises with an erect branched stem to the height of a cherry-tree; and is covered with an ash-coloured bark, under which is another bark that is green, fleshy, somewhat mucous, and of an aromatic taste, combined with a small degree of astringency. The wood is hard and brittle; the pith small in quantity, fungous, and of a green herbaceous colour. The leaves resemble those of laurel; the flowers, in some fort, those of narcissus. These last generally stand single, are of a pale white, and consist of 16 petals, which differ in their form. The extremity of the flower-stalk being continued into the germen or seed-bud of the flower, forms eight conjoined capsules, or one deeply divided into eight parts. Of these capsules, some frequently decay; the rest inclose each a single seed, somewhat resembling that of palma christi, and which, when the hardish corticle that closely covers and involves it is broken, exhibits a kernel that is white, fleshy, soft, and of a vapour taste. The bonzes, or priests of China and Japan, infuse into the inhabitants a superstitious belief, that the gods are delighted with the presence of this tree. Hence they generally place before their idols garlands and bundles made of the branches. A similar opinion the Brahmins inculcate into the Indians, of the Malabar fig, or ficus religiosa. The bark of the anise-tree, reduced to powder, and equally burnt, the public watchmen in Japan, by a very curious contrivance described by Kempfer, render useful in the measuring of time during the darkness of the night. The same powder is frequently burnt in brazen vessels on the Japanese altars, as incense is in other countries, from a belief that the idols in whose honour the ceremony is performed are greatly refreshed with the agreeable fragrance of its odour. It is remarkable, that a branch of this tree being added to the decoction of the poisonous fish, termed by the Dutch de ophofer (a fish the most delicate, if the poisonous matter be first properly expelled), increases its noxious quality, and exaggerates the poison to an astonishing degree of activity and power.