Smooth sweet cicely

Osmorhiza longistylis, commonly called smooth sweet cicely or aniseroot, is a perennial herb in the Apiaceae family native to deciduous woodlands of eastern and central North America. Growing from a thickened, aromatic taproot that smells strongly of anise or licorice, the plant reaches forty to ninety centimetres tall. The stems are slender, mostly smooth or sparsely hairy, and bear bipinnately or ternately compound leaves with broadly ovate, toothed leaflets. In late spring small white flowers are borne in delicate compound umbels with only a few rays. The fruits are narrow, ribbed schizocarps about one and a half centimetres long, tapering at both ends and tipped with persistent styles. Plants favour rich, moist soils in shaded settings. The whole plant gives off a sweet anise fragrance when bruised, distinguishing it from related Apiaceae.