Anise

a plant of the parsnip family. It is a native of Egypt, but is now cultivated from Spain to Syria, and somewhat in Germany. It is an aromatic annual herb about two feet in height. It bears loose, flat-topped umbels of yellowish white flowers, succeeded by curved, grayish seeds. The latter yield a highly aromatic volatile oil. The seeds are used in medicine and in cooking and to flavor wine. Cummin and caraway belong to the same family and have similar flavoring and medicinal qualities. When the Saviour said, "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law," he accused them of attending to petty matters to the neglect of important affairs.