Is star anise a true fruit or a false fruit?

True fruits have a simpler structure, consisting of an outer skin that contains seeds. The skin can be divided into three layers: the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The thickness of the skin varies. Typically, the exocarp has features like pores, a waxy coating, and may even have hairs, wings, or hooks. These characteristics help protect the fruit and aid in its dispersal, and they also serve as criteria for identifying species.

Star anise is a true fruit, developed solely from the ovary.