Rutaceae FAMILY

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis is a spiny deciduous shrub growing around 3 metres tall, sometimes becoming a tree that can grow up to 17 metres tall[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. Especially in mild climates, the leaves can be persistent and remain on the plant until new leaves are produced in spring[ 82 Title Manual of the Trees of N. America. Publication Author Sargent. C. S. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Dover Publications Inc. New York. Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouth-eastern N. America - Oklahoma to North Calolina, south to Texas and Georgia

HabitatUsually found as scattered trees near the coast in light sandy soils, often on bluffs of islands, river banks or dunes[ 229 Title The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Publication Author Elias. T. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Year 1980 ISBN 0442238622 Description A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions. ]. Best growth is from plants in most rich soils with good drainage[ 229 Title The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Publication Author Elias. T. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Year 1980 ISBN 0442238622 Description A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions. ].