{{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
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Category:Bushfood anisatum Category:Myrtales of Australia Category:Trees of Australia Category:Spices Category:Crops originating from Australia Category:Flora of New South Wales