Zanthoxylum

Zanthoxylum is a genus of about 250 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae, native to warm temperate and subtropical areas worldwide. Several of the species have yellow heartwood, to which their generic name refers (from the Ancient Greek ξανθός, xanthos, "yellow", and ξύλον, xylon, "wood"). The fruit of several species is used to make the spice Sichuan pepper.

Description

Zanthoxylum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the engrailed. The leaves are alternate, compound, and have oil glands. The flowers are greenish and inconspicuous. The fruit is a two-valved capsule which splits open to reveal the black seeds encased in a fleshy, bright red or orange-red aril.

Uses

Several Zanthoxylum species are used in traditional medicine. In particular, Zanthoxylum americanum, or prickly ash, is used in the traditional medicine of Native Americans. Other species are used in the traditional medicine of East Asia.

The bark of Zanthoxylum clava-herculis is used in traditional medicine in the southern United States. The fruit of Zanthoxylum piperitum, Zanthoxylum simulans, and Zanthoxylum schinifolium are used to make the spice Sichuan pepper in China, and similar uses are found in other countries of their distribution areas.

Species

There are about 250 species in the genus. Some notable species include:

• Zanthoxylum americanum – northern prickly ash
• Zanthoxylum clava-herculis – Hercules' club
• Zanthoxylum piperitum – Japanese pepper
• Zanthoxylum simulans – Sichuan pepper
• Zanthoxylum schinifolium – Korean pepper

External links

• The Plant List: Zanthoxylum

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