They look like star anise pods. They’re used in cooking to add an aniseed flavour. I’ve no idea if they’re suitable as an aquarium botanical, but my guess is they’d be okay in small doses.
I know that for many competition Match anglers, it's common practice and a so-called old-time secret recipe to put Anise seeds as an ingredient in their bait food. They claim to catch more fish when using this because of the Anise's laxative properties. The theory goes the Anise in the bait will accelerate the fish's metabolism and will poop faster and have a less full stomach and thus will eat sooner again and more often.
I have no idea if it was ever put to the test in a laboratory and if this goes for fish as well... It could be an urban myth but Anise seems to work laxatively for humans and that might be implanting the thoughts of anglers that it might work the same for fish. Anyway, I once got this recipe long ago from a price-winning competition match angler who revealed his secret to me why he was winning so often and caught more fish than the others. He made them poop...
It's a common practice to use a wide variety of soaked and germinated bird seeds off the shelf from the pet store in fish bait mixed with breadcrumbs etc.
I have no idea about Anise pods but the seeds yet never killed any fish AFAIK...
All caught fish with this bait is always put back in the pond after the match is done. And seeing 50 match anglers at the same pond competing who knows how much of them are dumping in bait with Anise seeds in it...
If you want more exotic pods to decorate your scape you can also have a look at hobby shops that sell materials for Dried Flower arrangements.
I've used Natural dried Lotus seed pots I once bought in such a shop and the shrimps loved it... But it takes a lot of time for them to soak. The Lotus Nembulo Nucifera is an aquatic plant. They grow fast in warm summers at a sunny spot, you could grow them yourselves too.
Anyway, you can find a variety of naturally dried exotic seed pods by the bag and or palm leaves etc. in the dried flower arrangement section that are also sold as aquatic botanicals but then with different price tags. I guess it all comes from the same wholesalers.
Just make sure the package says naturally dried...
It's either naturally dried or painted, and something painted is obvious in an unnatural look that won't be difficult to spot.
Seed pods have a high ornamental value and can be used in all kinds of arrangements throughout the year . Seed pods are beautiful to use in (Christmas) arrangements, potpourri, but are also beautiful on their own.
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