Zanthoxylum


Image:Zanthoxylum_clava-herculis2.jpg|thumb|Zanthoxylum clava-herculis Fruit and foliage
Zanthoxylum is a genus of about 250 species of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs and climbers in the family Rutaceae that are native to warm temperate and subtropical areas worldwide. It is the type genus of the tribe Zanthoxyleae in the subfamily Rutoideae. Several of the species have yellow heartwood, to which their generic name alludes. Several species are cultivated for their use as spices, notably including Sichuan pepper.

Description

Plants in the genus Zanthoxylum are typically dioecious shrubs, trees or woody climbers armed with trichomes. The leaves are arranged alternately and are usually pinnate or trifoliate. The flowers are usually arranged in panicles and usually function as male or female flowers with four sepals and four petals, the sepals remaining attached to the fruit. Male flowers have four stamens opposite the sepals. Female flowers have up to five, more or less free carpels with the styles free or sometimes fused near the tip. The fruit is usually of up to four follicles fused at the base, each containing a single seed almost as large as the follicle.

Taxonomy

The genus Zanthoxylum was first formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in the first volume of Species Plantarum.
The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek words, meaning 'yellow', and, meaning 'wood'. It is technically misspelled, as the z should be x, but botanical nomenclature does not allow for spelling corrections. It refers to a yellow dye made from the roots of some species. The first species that Linnaeus described was Zanthoxylum trifoliatum, now regarded as a synonym of Eleutherococcus trifoliatus. The once separate genus Fagara is now included in Zanthoxylum.

Fossil record

28 fossil seeds of the extinct Zanthoxylum kristinae, from the early Miocene, have been found in the Kristina Mine at Hrádek nad Nisou in North Bohemia, the Czech Republic.

Uses

Many Zanthoxylum species make excellent bonsai and in temperate climates they can be grown quite well indoors. Zanthoxylum beecheyanum and Zanthoxylum piperitum are two species commonly grown as bonsai.

Culinary use

Spices are made from a number of species in this genus, including:Zanthoxylum acanthopodium – AndalimanZanthoxylum armatum – "green" or "vine" Sichuan pepperZanthoxylum bungeanum – "red" or common Sichuan pepperZanthoxylum gilletii - UzaziZanthoxylum piperitum –, Zanthoxylum nitidumZanthoxylum rhetsa – teppal, tirphalZanthoxylum schinifolium –, "green" Sichuan pepperZanthoxylum simulans – "red" or wild Sichuan pepper

Andaliman

In Indonesia's North Sumatra province, Zanthoxylum acanthopodium is harvested for andaliman. In Indonesian Batak cuisine, andaliman is ground and mixed with chilies and seasonings into a green sambal or chili paste. Arsik is a typical Indonesian dish containing andaliman.

and

Zanthoxylum piperitum is harvested in Japan and Korea to produce or, which has numbing properties similar to those of Chinese Sichuan peppercorns.
In Korean cuisine, is often used to accompany fish soups such as, whereas the plant's seeds are separated and used to make oil, and the oil is used as a medicine.

Sancho

The Korean is made from Zanthoxylum schinifolium, which is slightly less bitter than. In Korean cuisine, is often used to accompany fish soups such as.

Sichuan pepper

The fruit of Zanthoxylum armatum and Zanthoxylum bungeanum species is used to make Sichuan pepper by grinding the husks that surround the berries.

Triphal and teppal

In the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa in Western India, the dried berries of Zanthoxylum rhetsa are known as teppal or tirphal in Marathi are added to foods such as legumes and fish. The name in both languages means 'three fruits' or 'three pods'. Because the trees bear fruit during the monsoon season, the berries are associated with the concurrent Krishna Janmashtami festival.
The fresh fruits are parrot green in color and are used as a flavouring agent in many curries made with a paste of coconut, chilis, and other spices. When dried, the flesh of the fruit hardens, turns a brownish black color and opens up to show the black seeds within. The seeds are discarded and the dried fruit is stored in containers for use around the year. Mostly used in fish preparations and a few vegetarian dishes, with coconut masala, this spice has a very strong woody aroma and is discarded at the time of eating the curry.

Chemistry

Plants in the genus Zanthoxylum contain the lignan sesamin.
Species identified in Nigeria contains several types of alkaloids including benzophenanthridines, furoquinolines, carbazoles, aporphines, canthinones, acridones, and aromatic and aliphatic amides.
Hydroxy-alpha sanshool is a bioactive component of plants from the genus Zanthoxylum, including the Sichuan pepper. It provides the characteristic numbness.

Ecology

Zanthoxylum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the engrailed.

Species

The following is a list of species accepted by Plants of the World Online as of August 2020:Zanthoxylum acanthopodium D.R.Simpson Zanthoxylum aculeatissimum Engl. Zanthoxylum acuminatum Sw. Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Siebold & Zucc. – ailanthus-like prickly ashZanthoxylum albiflorum Baker f. Zanthoxylum albuquerquei D.C. Zanthoxylum amamiense Ohwi Zanthoxylum amapaense P.G.Waterm. Zanthoxylum americanum Mill. – northern prickly ash, prickly ash, toothache tree Zanthoxylum anadenium J.Jiménez Alm. Zanthoxylum andamanicum Kurz Zanthoxylum andinum Reynel Zanthoxylum anison L.O.Williams Zanthoxylum anthyllidifolium Guillaumin Zanthoxylum apiculatum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum arborescens Rose Zanthoxylum armatum DC. – winged prickly ash Zanthoxylum atchoum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum austrosinense C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum avicennae DC. Zanthoxylum backeri T.G.HartleyZanthoxylum beechyanum K.Koch Zanthoxylum bifoliolatum Leonard – Maricao prickly ash Zanthoxylum bissei Beurton Zanthoxylum bonifaziae Cornejo & Reynel Zanthoxylum bouetense P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum brachyacanthum F.Muell. – thorny yellowwood Zanthoxylum brisasanum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum buesgenii P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. – Chinese/Sichuan pepper Zanthoxylum burkillianum BabuZanthoxylum calcicola C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum campicola Reynel Zanthoxylum canalense P.G.WatermanZanthoxylum capense Harv. Zanthoxylum caribaeum Lam. – yellow prickly ash Zanthoxylum caudatum Alston Zanthoxylum celebicum Koord. Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. Zanthoxylum chevalieri P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum chuquisaquense Reynel Zanthoxylum ciliatum Engl. Zanthoxylum claessensii P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L. – Hercules' club, pepperbark, southern prickly ash, West Indian yellowwood Zanthoxylum coco Gillies ex Hook.f. f. & Arn. – coco, cochucho, smelly sauco Zanthoxylum collinsiae Craib Zanthoxylum comosum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum compactum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum conspersipunctatum Merr. & Perry Zanthoxylum cucullatipetalum Guillaumin Zanthoxylum davyi P.G.Waterman – forest knobwood Zanthoxylum decaryi H.Perrier Zanthoxylum delagoense P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum deremense Kokwaro Zanthoxylum dimorphophyllum Hemsl. Zanthoxylum dinklagei P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum dipetalum H.Mann – Kāwau Zanthoxylum dissitum Hemsl. Zanthoxylum diversifolium Warb. Zanthoxylum djalma-batistae P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum domingense J.Jiménez Alm. Zanthoxylum dumosum A.Rich. Zanthoxylum echinocarpum Hemsl. Zanthoxylum ekmanii Alain Zanthoxylum eliasii D.M.Porter Zanthoxylum engleri Waterm.Zanthoxylum esquirolii H.Lév. Zanthoxylum fagara Sarg. – Lime prickly ash Zanthoxylum fauriei Ohwi – lesser ailanthus-like prickly ash Zanthoxylum finlaysonianum Wall. Zanthoxylum flavum Vahl – West Indian satinwood Zanthoxylum foliolosum Donn.Sm. Zanthoxylum forbesii T.G.Hartley Zanthoxylum formiciferum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum gardneri Engl. Zanthoxylum gentryi Reynel Zanthoxylum ghisbreghtii Turcz. Zanthoxylum gillespieanum A.C.Sm. Zanthoxylum gilletii P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum glomeratum C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum grandifolium Tul. Zanthoxylum haitiense J.Jiménez Alm. Zanthoxylum hamadryadicum Pirani Zanthoxylum harrisii P.Wilson Zanthoxylum hartii P.Wilson [Zanthoxylum hawaiiense Hillebr. – a'e, Hawai'i prickly ash Zanthoxylum heitzii P.G.Waterm. Sm. Zanthoxylum holtzianum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum huberi P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum humile Zanthoxylum impressinervium Reynel Zanthoxylum integrifoliolum Elmer Zanthoxylum iwahigense Reynel Zanthoxylum jamaicense P.Wilson Zanthoxylum juniperinum Poepp. Zanthoxylum kauaense A.Gray – Kauai prickly ash Zanthoxylum khasianum Hook.f. Zanthoxylum kleinii P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum kwangsiense Chun ex C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum laetum Drake Zanthoxylum laurentii P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum leiboicum C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum lemairei P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum lenticellosum J.Jiménez Alm. Zanthoxylum lenticulare Reynel Zanthoxylum lepidopteriphilum Reynel Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. & Perr. Zanthoxylum leratii Guillaumin Zanthoxylum liboense C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum limoncello Planch. & Oerst. Zanthoxylum lindense Kokwaro Zanthoxylum macranthum C.C. Huang Zanthoxylum madagascariense Baker Zanthoxylum magnifasciculatum Reynel Zanthoxylum mananarense H.Perrier Zanthoxylum mantaro J.F.Macbr. Zanthoxylum maranionense Reynel Zanthoxylum martinicense DC. – white prickly ashZanthoxylum mayu Bertero Zanthoxylum megistophyllum T.G.Hartley Zanthoxylum melanostictum Schltdl. & Cham. Zanthoxylum mezoneurispinosum W.D.Hawth. Zanthoxylum micranthum Hemsl. Zanthoxylum mildbraedii P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum molle Rehder Zanthoxylum mollissimum P.Wilson Zanthoxylum monogynum A.St.-Hil. Zanthoxylum motuoense C.C.HuangZanthoxylum multijugum Franch. Zanthoxylum myriacanthum Wall. ex Hook.f. Zanthoxylum myrianthum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum nadeaudii Drake Zanthoxylum nashii P.Wilson Zanthoxylum nebuletorum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum nemorale Mart. Zanthoxylum neocaledonicum Baker f. Zanthoxylum nigrum Mart. Zanthoxylum nitidum DC. – shiny-leaf prickly ash Zanthoxylum novoguineense T.G.Hartley Zanthoxylum oahuense Hillebr. – Oahu prickly ash Zanthoxylum ovalifolium Wight Zanthoxylum ovatifoliolatum Finkelstein Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew. Zanthoxylum panamense P.Wilson Zanthoxylum pancheri P.S.Green Zanthoxylum paniculatum Balf.f. Zanthoxylum paracanthum Kokwaro Zanthoxylum paulae P.G. Waterman Zanthoxylum pentandrum R.A.Howard Zanthoxylum petenense Lundell Zanthoxylum petiolare A.St.-Hil. & Tul. Zanthoxylum piasezkii Maxim. Zanthoxylum pilosiusculum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum pilosulum Rehder & E.H.Wilson Zanthoxylum pimpinelloides DC. Zanthoxylum pinnatum W.R.B.Oliv. Zanthoxylum piperitum DC. Zanthoxylum phyllopterum Wright Zanthoxylum piasezkii Maxim.Zanthoxylum pilosiusculum P.G.Waterm.Zanthoxylum pilosulum Rehder & E.H. WilsonZanthoxylum pimpinelloides DC.Zanthoxylum pinnatum DruceZanthoxylum piperitum DC. – Japanese pepper, chopi, Korean pepper Zanthoxylum pluviatile T.G.Hartley Zanthoxylum poggei P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum psammophilum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum pseudoxyphyllum Babu Zanthoxylum pteracanthum Rehder & E.H.Wilson Zanthoxylum pucro D.M Porter Zanthoxylum punctatum Vahl – dotted prickly ash Zanthoxylum quassiifolium Standl. & Steyerm. Zanthoxylum quinduense Tul. Zanthoxylum renieri P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum retroflexum T.G.Hartley Zanthoxylum retusum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum rhetsa DC. – Cape yellowwood, Indian ivy-rue, Indian pepper Zanthoxylum rhodoxylum P.Wilson Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. Zanthoxylum rhombifoliolatum C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum riedelianum Engl. Zanthoxylum rigidum Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. Zanthoxylum rubescens Planch. ex Hook. Zanthoxylum sapindifolium Wall. Zanthoxylum sarasinii Guillaumin Zanthoxylum scandens Blume Zanthoxylum schinifolium Siebold & Zucc. – mastic-leaf prickly ash, Sichuan pepper Zanthoxylum schlechteri Guillaumin Zanthoxylum schreberi Reynel ex C.Nelson Zanthoxylum setulosum P.Wilson Zanthoxylum simulans Hance Zanthoxylum spinosum Sw. Zanthoxylum spondiifolium Wall. Zanthoxylum sprucei Engl. Zanthoxylum stelligerum Turcz. Zanthoxylum stenophyllum Hemsl. Zanthoxylum subspicatum H. Perrier Zanthoxylum syncarpum Tul. ex B.D.Jacks. Zanthoxylum taediosum A.Rich. Zanthoxylum tahitense J.Florence & N.Hallé Zanthoxylum tambopatense Reynel Zanthoxylum tetraphyllum J.Jiménez Alm. Zanthoxylum tetraspermum Wight & Arn. Zanthoxylum thomense A.Chev. ex P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum thornycroftii P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum thouventii H.Perrier Zanthoxylum tidorense Miq. Zanthoxylum timoriense Span. Zanthoxylum tingoassuiba A.St.-Hil. Zanthoxylum tomentellum Hook.f. Zanthoxylum tragodes DC. – Niaragato Zanthoxylum trijugum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum tsihanimposa H.Perrier Zanthoxylum undulatifolium Hemsl. Zanthoxylum unifoliatum Groppo & Pirani Zanthoxylum usambarense Kokwara Zanthoxylum usitatum Pierre ex Laness. Zanthoxylum venosum Leonard Zanthoxylum verrucosum P.G.Waterman Zanthoxylum vinkii T.G.Hartley Zanthoxylum viride T.G.Hartley Zanthoxylum vitiense A.C.Sm. Zanthoxylum wutaiense I.S.Chen Zanthoxylum xichouense C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum yakumontanum Nagam. Zanthoxylum yuanjiangensis C.C.Huang Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides Zepern. & Timler – Senegal prickly ash

Unplaced species

The genus Fagara has been sunk into Zanthoxylum, but as of 2025, no name seemed to have been provided for Fagara externa, which was regarded as an unplaced name by Plants of the World Online.