Zanthoxylum simulans
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Zanthoxylum simulans Hance |
Zanthoxylum simulans (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).
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. 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.
Synonyms include Zanthoxylum bungeanum and Zanthoxylum bungei.
[edit] References
- Flora of Taiwan, volume 3 pages 541, 542 and 543
- NC State University fact sheet