Zanthoxylum

Zanthoxylum
Z. kauaense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Subfamily: Toddalioideae
Genus: Zanthoxylum
L.[1]
Type species
Zanthoxylum americanum
Mill.[2]
Species

About 250, see text.

Synonyms

Fagara L.
Ochroxylum Schreb.
Xanthoxylum Mill.[1]

Zanthoxylum (including Z. fagara) is a genus of about 250 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs in the citrus or rue family, Rutaceae, native to warm temperate and subtropical areas worldwide. Common names include Prickly-ash and Hercules' Club.

The fruit of several species are used to make the spice Sichuan pepper. They are also used as bonsai trees. Historically, the bark was widely used for toothache, colic, and rheumatism.[3]

Contents

Selected species

Formerly placed here

Taxonomy

The generic name is derived from Greek words ξανθὸς (xanthos), meaning "yellow," and ξύλον (xylon), meaning "wood." It refers to a yellow dye made from the roots of some species.[8] The Takhtajan system places the genus in the subfamily Rutoideae, tribe Zanthoxyleae,[9] while Germplasm Resources Information Network places it in the subfamily Toddalioideae and does not assign it to a tribe.[1] The once separate genus Fagara is now included in Zanthoxylum.[10]

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, especially Zanthoxylum piperitum, Z. simulans, Z. bungeanum, Z. schinifolium Z. nitidum, Z. rhetsa, Z. alatum, and Z. acanthopodium. Sichuan pepper is most often made by grinding the husks that surround Z. piperitum berries.[11] In the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa in Western India, the berries of Z. rhetsa are sun-dried and added to foods such as legumes and fish. Because the trees bear fruit during the monsoon season, the berries are associated with the concurrent Krishna Janmashtami festival.[12] It is called timur or timbur in Nepal, Darjeeling and Sikkim and is used widely to make a tingling dip, especially for boiled food like potatoes and yams.

Ecology

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

References

  1. ^ a b c "Genus: Zanthoxylum L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2008-03-21. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?13017. Retrieved 2010-06-21. 
  2. ^ "!Zanthoxylum L.". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40028189. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  3. ^ Wilbur, C. Keith, MD. Revolutionary Medicine 1700-1800. The Globe Pequot Press. Page 23. 1980.
  4. ^ Allen, Gary (2007). The Herbalist in the Kitchen. University of Illinois Press. pp. 389. ISBN 9780252031625. http://books.google.com/books?id=Fniv9ShKmxcC&. 
  5. ^ "Subordinate taxa of !Zanthoxylum L.". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/NameSubordinateTaxa.aspx?nameid=40028189. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  6. ^ "Zanthoxylum". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=28849. Retrieved 2010-02-25. 
  7. ^ a b "GRIN Species records of Zanthoxylum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?13017. Retrieved 2010-11-29. 
  8. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. IV R-Z. Taylor & Francis US. p. 2868. ISBN 9780849326783. http://books.google.com/books?id=zIOvJSJs-IkC. 
  9. ^ Takhtajan, Armen (2009). Flowering Plants (2 ed.). Springer. p. 375. ISBN 9781402096082. http://books.google.com/books?id=oumyfO-NHuUC&. 
  10. ^ Beurton, C. (1994). "Gynoecium and perianth in Zanthoxylum s.l. (Rutaceae)". Plant Systematics and Evolution 189: 165–191. 
  11. ^ Peter, K. V. (2004). Handbook of Herbs and Spices. 2. Woodhead Publishing. pp. 98–99. ISBN 9781855737211. 
  12. ^ Bharadwaj, Monisha (2006). Indian Spice Kitchen. Hippocrene Books. pp. 82–83. ISBN 9780781811439. 

External links