Abstract: A taxonomic revision of the genus Illicium is presented based mainly of herbarium studies involving more than 10 thousand speciemens from 121herbaria worldwide, along with field observations and morphological studies. Variation in morphological character of flower buds and tepals is used as the basis of an amended supraspecific classification, with 2 sections, viz.:Illicium sect. Illicium, consisting of 9 species and 1 subspecies and characterized by flower buds ovoid, and tepals oblong, elliptic, lanceolate to narrowly ligulate, and flat;and Illicium sect. Cymbostemon, consisting of 25 species, 2 subspecies and 1 variety with flower buds sphaeroid, and tepals broadly ovate to orbicular, and concave. Illicium sect. Impressicosta Law & Q. Lin is regarded as a new synonym of Illicium sect. Illicium, Illicium subgen. Cymbostemon (Spach) Law & Q. Lin is regarded as a new synonym of Illicium sect. Cymbostemon (Spach) A. C. Smith, and lectotypes of Illicium henryi Diels and I. cambodianum Hance are designated. Taxonomic character, a key to the taxa, geographical distribution, specimens examined, and classification notes are provided for each taxon in this paper.

Key words: Illicium Linn., Taxonomy, Revision