Star Anise (Illicium verum) is the seed pod from the fruit of the Illicium verum plant, an evergreen shrub native to North of Vietnam (Lang Son Province). The star anise pod, which is shaped like a star (hence its name), has an average of eight points, each containing a single pea-sized seed. Both the seeds and the pod are used in cooking and contain the sweet, potent anise flavor.