Zanthoxylum simulans
Zanthoxylum simulans, the Chinese-pepper,[1] Chinese prickly-ash or flatspine prickly-ash, is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to eastern China and Taiwan. It is one of several species of Zanthoxylum from which Sichuan pepper is produced (see that page for uses).
| Zanthoxylum simulans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Habitus of leafless plant | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Zanthoxylum |
| Species: | Z. simulans |
| Binomial name | |
| Zanthoxylum simulans Hance | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
It is a spreading shrub or small tree growing to 7 m tall. The leaves are 7–12.5 cm long, pinnate, with 7–11 leaflets, the leaflets 3–5 cm long and 1.5–2 cm broad. There are numerous short (3–6 mm) spines on both the stems and the leaf petioles, and large (several cm) knobs on the branches. The flowers are produced in slender cymes, each flower about 4–5 mm diameter. The 3–4 mm berry has a rough reddish brown shell that splits open to release the black seeds from inside.
Notes and references
- "Zanthoxylum simulans". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- Chyau, Charng-Cherng; Mau, Jeng-Leun; Wu, Chung-May; et al. (1996). "Characteristics of the Steam-Distilled Oil and Carbon Dioxide Extract of Zanthoxylum simulans Fruits". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 44 (4): 1096–9. doi:10.1021/jf950577d.
- Flora of Taiwan, volume 3 pages 541, 542 and 543
- NC State University fact sheet