Syzygium anisatum (Synonyms: Anetholea anisata, Backhousia anisata)— Ringwood, Aniseed Tree, Aniseed Myrtle—MYRTACEAE.
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Habitat—Grows in subtropical rainforest, often along streams or on lower slopes; rare. Distribution— Confined to the Nambucca and Bellinger Valleys in New South Wales. Description—Medium—sized to large tree with somewhat soft and corky bark; young branchlets glabrous. Local occurrences— North Coast Regional Botanic Garden Coffs Harbour,
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and
Raintrees Diamond Beach.
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Leaves.— Simple, opposite, entire, with distinct oil dots and intramarginal vein, hairless, margins wavy; lanceolate to elliptic, 5 to 12.5 cm long, 1 to 2.5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base attenuate, margins undulate, glabrous, upper surface glossy, lower surface dull and paler; lateral veins numerous, prominent, intramarginal close to margin; oil glands large, numerous, distinct, crushed leaves with an aniseed smell; petiole 5 to 6 mm long. |
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Inflorescence.—White. Hypanthium glabrous. Sepals 1 to 1.5 mm long. Petals c. 3 mm long. Stamens c. 5 mm long. Flowering.—Spring. |
Fruit.—Commonly 5 mm long; summit flat, level with the hypanthium. Ripe.—Summer to Autumn |
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