View source for Syzygium anisatum

{{Short description|Species of tree}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2025}}
{{speciesbox
|image = Syzygium anisatum flowers 1259.jpg
|image_caption = Flowers
|image2 = Aniseed myrtle.JPG
|genus = Syzygium
|species = anisatum
|authority = (Vickery) Craven & Biffen {{R|APNI|Craven-Biffin-2005}}
|synonyms =
*''Anetholea anisata'' <small>(Vickery) Peter G.Wilson</small>
*''Backhousia anisata'' <small>Vickery</small>
|synonyms_ref = {{R|POWO}}
}}

'''''Syzygium anisatum''''', with common names '''ringwood''' and '''aniseed tree''', is a rare rainforest tree native to [[New South Wales]], Australia. The aromatic leaves contain an essential oil profile comparable to true aniseed.

The leaf from cultivated plantations is used as a bushfood spice and distilled for the essential oil, and is known in the trade as '''aniseed myrtle''' or '''anise myrtle'''.

The ringwood tree has a dense crown and grows up to {{cvt|45|m}} tall. The leaves are {{cvt|6–12|cm|1}} long with prominently undulated margins and rich aniseed aroma when crushed.

Flowers are white and sweetly scented, borne in panicles. The fruit are dry papery capsules around {{cvt|5|mm|2}} long and are white in appearance.

Ringwood's natural distribution in the wild is restricted to the Nambucca and Bellinger Valleys in northeastern New South Wales.{{R|PLANTNET}}

==Uses==
Used as a flavouring spice and herbal tea ingredient. Although previously known, it was first sold in the early 1990s as a bushfood spice, and in the mid 1990s cultivated in plantations to meet demand.{{R|CSIRO1|CSIRO2}}

The essential oil of ''S. anisatum'' contains [[anethole]] and [[methyl chavicol]], imparting licorice and aniseed flavours respectively.

'Aniseed myrtle' is the name originally coined to specifically describe high quality selections of the trans-anethole [[chemotype]] (90%+) - [[generally recognized as safe]] for [[flavouring]]. These selections are propagated from cutting for consistent essential oil quality. The aniseed myrtle selections are also low in [[methyl chavicol]] and cis-anethole (less than 0.1%).

Research indicates that aniseed myrtle oil has [[antimicrobial]] activity, including on the [[pathogenic]] yeast ''[[Candida albicans]]''.{{R|WILKINSON}}

==Myrtle rust==
A significant fungal pathogen, myrtle rust (''[[Austropuccinia]]''), was detected in aniseed myrtle plantations in January 2011.{{R|DPINSW}} Myrtle rust severely damages new growth and threatens aniseed myrtle production. Controls are being developed.

==See also==
{{portal|Australia|Food}}
*[[List of Australian herbs and spices]]

==References==
{{Reflist|27em|refs=
<ref name=Craven-Biffin-2005>{{Cite journal |last1=Craven |first1=L.A. |author-link=Lyndley Craven |last2=Biffin |first2=E. |date=2005 |title=''Anetholea anisata'' transferred to, and two new Australian taxa of, ''Syzygium'' (Myrtaceae) |journal=Blumea |volume=50 |number=1 |pages=157–162 |doi=10.3767/000651905X623346 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2005Blume..50..157C }}</ref>

<ref name="APNI">{{cite web |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/name/apni/189182 |title=''Syzygium anisatum'' |website=[[Australian Plant Name Index]] (APNI) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, [[Australian Government]] |access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="POWO">{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77065696-1 |title=''Syzygium anisatum'' (Vickery) Craven & Biffin |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |year=2025 |access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="PLANTNET">{{cite web |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Anetholea~anisata |title=''Anetholea anisata'' (Vickery) Peter G.Wilson |author1=Peter G.Wilson |year=2006 |website=PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System) |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney |access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="CSIRO1">{{cite web |title=Australian Native Foods - Industry Profile - Regions |url=http://www.cse.csiro.au/research/nativefoods/industryprofile/regions.htm |website=CSIRO |access-date=2012-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100318130834/http://www.cse.csiro.au/research/nativefoods/industryprofile/regions.htm |archive-date=18 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="CSIRO2">{{cite web |title=Australian Native Foods - Industry Profile - Processors and Marketers |url=http://www.cse.csiro.au/research/nativefoods/industryprofile/processors.htm |website=CSIRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209104227/http://www.cse.csiro.au/research/nativefoods/industryprofile/processors.htm |archive-date=9 Feb 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="WILKINSON">{{cite journal |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Jenny M. |last2=Cavanagh |first2=M.A. |title=Antibacterial activity of essential oils from Australian native plants |journal=Phytotherapy Research |date=2005 |volume=19 |issue=7 |pages=643–646 |doi=10.1002/ptr.1716|pmid=16161028 }}</ref>

<ref name="DPINSW">{{cite web |title=Myrtle Rust - host list and images |url=http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust/hosts |website=Department of Primary Industries |publisher=New South Wales Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216220947/http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust/hosts |archive-date=16 February 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
* [https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Syzygium+anisatum#tab_mapView View a map] of herbarium records of this species at the [[Australasian Virtual Herbarium]]
* [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=902944 View observations] of this species on [[iNaturalist]]
* [https://flickriver.com/search/Syzygium+anisatum See images] of this species on Flickriver.com

{{Taxonbar|from=Q7663970}}

[[Category:Bushfood]]
[[Category:Syzygium|anisatum]]
[[Category:Myrtales of Australia]]
[[Category:Trees of Australia]]
[[Category:Spices]]
[[Category:Crops originating from Australia]]
[[Category:Flora of New South Wales]]