Anise, an annual herb of the parsley family. Anise is cultivated in Europe, Asia, and South America. It is native to the Mediterranean region and was used as an aromatic herb by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. The plant grows to a maximum height of two feet (60 cm), and its small yellowish-white flowers bloom in loose clusters. Anise seeds (which are actually fruits) have a spicy fragrance and are used for flavoring in pastries, breads, and candies. Anise oil, which is extracted from the seeds, is used as a flavoring in medicines and liqueurs and for aroma in perfumes. The oil is also used as a drug that relieves gas pressure in the stomach and other parts of the digestive tract. Anisette (a sweet, usually colorless, liqueur) is flavored by anise oil.
Anise is Pimpinella anisum of the parsley family, Umbelliferae.Anise is an annual herb that produces licorice-flavored seeds.