Edible Plant Species

Ilex cassine Walt. Ilicineae (Aquifoliaceae). CASSINA. DAHOON HOLLY. HOLLY. YAUPON.
Eastern North America.
Romans says the leaves of the cassina were roasted and made into a decoction by the Creek Indians. The Indians attributed many virtues to the tea and permitted only men to drink it. Along the coast region of Virginia and Carolina, the leaves of yaupon are used as a tea and are an object of sale.

I. fertilis Reiss.
Brazil.
This species yields the mild mate, considered equal to the best Paraguay tea.

I. glabra A. Gray. APPALACHIAN TEA. INKBERRY.
Eastern North America.
Porcher says the leaves form a tea substitute.

I. paraguensis A. St. Hil. MATE. YERBA DE MATE.
Paraguay.
From this plant comes the well-known mate of South America, which replaces tea in Brazil and Buenos Aires. It is consumed by the thousands of tons.

I. quercifolia Meerb. AMERICAN HOLLY.
Eastern North America.
According to Porcher, the leaves afford a tea substitute in the south.

I. verticillata A. Gray. BLACK ALDER. WINTERBERRY.
Porcher says the leaves are substituted for tea.

Illicium anisatum Linn. Magnoliaceae (Illiciaceae). CHINESE ANISE.
Eastern Asia.
The fruit, about an inch in diameter, forms an article of commerce amongst Asiatic nations. In 1872, Shanghai received 703,066 pounds. The Chinese mix the fruit with coffee and tea to improve the flavor. The Mohammedans of India season some of their dishes with the capsules, and the capsules are largely imported into Germany, France and Italy for the flavoring of spirits.