What is the botanical name of the star anise used in pho broth?

The botanical name of the star anise used in pho broth is Illicium verum. This species is commonly called Chinese star anise or simply star anise, and its dried, star-shaped fruit supplies pho with a sweet, licorice-like aroma.

Illicium verum is an evergreen tree native to southern China and northeastern Vietnam. The spice is not a seed in the usual culinary sense: it is the dried fruit, whose six to eight woody follicles form the familiar star shape. The fruit is generally harvested before full ripeness and dried for use in broths, spice blends, teas, and other dishes.

Star anise is one of the signature spices in many pho broths, alongside ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, and onion. It contributes fragrance rather than a dominant flavor, so cooks usually remove the whole pods before serving. Its anethole-rich flavor resembles that of anise, although the plants are unrelated.

The important mix-up is with Illicium anisatum, Japanese star anise, which looks similar but is highly toxic and not a culinary substitute. Illicium parviflorum, or swamp star anise, is another poisonous relative found in the southeastern United States.