Agathosma crenulata

Agathosma crenulata, one of the Agathosma species commonly known in Afrikaans as anysboegoe (aniseed buchu), is an aromatic shrub growing to 2 m in height. New growth has reddish stems.

The comparatively large leaves for an Agathosma seen in the photo grow opposite on short petioles. The leaf is ovate to elliptic with rounded base and tapering to a pointed tip. The leaf margins are crenulate, i.e. having small rounded teeth, giving the species its name.

The abundant flowers growing from leaf axils are white, sometimes flushed with pink or mauve. Flowering occurs from winter through spring.

The species distribution in the Western Cape ranges from Paarl northwards to Tulbagh and Ceres, eastwards to Swellendam. This plant was growing well in Kirstenbosch, but without flowers as the season was autumn.

The habitat is damp lower slopes or near streams in the fynbos. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

There is another large-leaved species, A. serratifolia that has serrated leaf margins and a more southerly distribution (Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).