Are Illicium Verum and Lemongrass in the same botanical family?

No — Illicium Verum is Schisandraceae and Lemongrass is Poaceae.

Can you substitute Illicium Verum for Lemongrass?

They come from different families (Schisandraceae and Poaceae), so direct substitution is uncommon.

Compare · per-herb profile

Illicium Verum vs Lemongrass

Illicium verum · Cymbopogon citratus

Illicium Verum

Illicium verum

T Traditional Use

Family: Schisandraceae
Genus: Illicium
Primary use: culinary & medicinal

Illicium verum is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to South China and northeast Vietnam. Its star-shaped pericarp fruits harvested just before ripening are a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor. Its primary production country is China, followed by Vietnam and other S…

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

T Traditional Use

Family: Poaceae
Genus: Cymbopogon
Primary use: culinary & medicinal

Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as West Indian lemon grass or simply lemon grass, is a tropical plant native to South Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia and introduced to many tropical regions.

At a glance

· Different families — Schisandraceae vs Poaceae.
· Both are primarily both.
· Evidence tiers — Illicium Verum: T; Lemongrass: T.