Spec. Plant Willd. i. 1471. Cl.5. Ord.2. Pentandria Digynia. Nat. ord. Umbelliferae. G. 562. Fruit ovate-oblong. Petals inflected. Stigma nearly globular. Species 8. Pimpinella Anisum.1 Anise. Med. Bot. 3d edit. 135, t.52. Officinal. Anisi semina, Lond. Pimpinellae Anisi semina,

Edin. Anisum, Dub. Anise-seeds.

Syn. Graines d'Anis (F.), Anis(G. Dan., Swed., Russ.), Anice (I.), Her-badoce (Portug.), Anis; Matalahnga (S.), Anys (Dutch), Anyz (Poln., Bohm.), Ahison (Arab.), Souf (H.), Seri nisii (Japan.), Rosianeh roomi (Pers.), Adis manis (Javanese), Somboo ( Tarn.), Jera manis (Malay).

This is an annual plant, a native of Egypt; but it is cultivated abundantly in Malta and Spain, and in our physical herb gardens2; flowering in July. It is a delicate plant, and rises about a foot only in height. The stem is striated, smooth, jointed, and branching: the lower leaves are roundish, lobed, and toothed; but the upper ones are divided into narrow, pinnated segments : the flowers are small and white, in flat, terminal umbels, without involucres; the seeds are oblong, swelling, striated, and of a greenish colour.

Dioscoridis, who says-" lactis ubertatem praestat, venerem sti -mulat." 1. 3. c. 65.

2 A considerable quantity is cultivated at Mitcham in Surrey, chiefly for the use of the rectifiers of British spirits, Stevenson's Survey, 279.

The anise grown in this country ripens its seed sufficiently to be gathered about the middle of August. A greater quantity of seed, however than is grown here is annually imported from Malta and Spain. The Spanish is small, and generally preferred. The heaviest are to be preferred.

Qualities.-Anise-seeds have an aromatic odour, which is increased when they are rubbed in the hands, and a sweetish, warm, grateful taste. Both alcohol and water extract their virtues; and in distillation with water they yield a yellowish volatile oil, which concretes at a temperature of 50° of Fah- -renheit. An oil of a greenish colour also is obtained from anise-seeds by expression; it consists of a bland, fixed, inodorous oil, mixed with a large portion of the proper essential oil. The constituents of this oil are 76.487 carbon + 13.821 oxygen + 9.352 hydrogen + 0.340 nitrogen = 100.000.

Medical properties and uses. These seeds are carminative; and are supposed to possess the power of promoting the secretion of milk. They are chiefly used in flatulencies, and in the tormina of infants. They are given in substance bruised, in doses of from grs. x. to 3 ij.

Officinal preparations.- Oleum Anisi, L. E. D. Spiritus Anisi, L.