i believe it is another term for hřebíček (cloves) http://slovniky.centrum.cz/?q=h%C5%99eb ... Dek&lang=2 Also, I think i have seen chinese anise sold more often as "star anise" - but that might depend in which english-speaking country you are in...
upps sorry jana - didn't see your reply - for some reason, i didn't see your post when i opened the link from my notification e-mail just ignore me