One of the earliest aromatics mentioned in literature. The plant, Pimpinella anisum (Apiaceae), is an annual herb about 2 ft (0.6 m) tall and a native of the Mediterranean region. It is cultivated extensively in Europe, Asia Minor, India, and parts of South America. The small fruits are used for flavoring cakes, curries, pastry, and candy. The distilled oil is used in medicine, soaps, perfumery, and cosmetics.