Zanthoxylum armatum
Winged Prickly Ash · Nepalese Pepper
a deciduous spice tree of the Zanthoxylum genus in the family Rutaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
A large shrub or small tree with spiny branches, glossy green leaves and small, yellow flowers followed by attractive red fruits.
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Genus
- Zanthoxylum
- Habit
- tree
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 4 m
- Spread
- 4 m
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Insects
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Flower colours
- green
- Pollinators
- insects
Uses
Edible uses
- Plant part
- Seeds
- Product or use
- Spice
- Plant part
- Seeds
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Product or use
- Herbs
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The seeds and the bark are used as an aromatic tonic in the treatment of fevers, dyspepsia and cholera[12]. The fruits, branches and thorns are considered to be carminative and stomachic[13][14][7][8][12]. They are used as a remedy for toothache[12].
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Odontalgic, Stimulant, Stomachic
- Plant part
- Seeds
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Plant part
- Bark
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Plant part
- Branch
- Product or use
- Odontalgic, Stimulant, Stomachic
- Plant part
- Thorns
- Product or use
- Odontalgic, Stimulant, Stomachic
Material uses
- Plant part
- Wood
- Product or use
- Timber, Dental care, Walking sticks
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Water Purification
Ecology and functions
Forage
- Details
- Zanthoxylum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including The Engrailed.
- Forage
- Lepidoptera
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.
- Habitat
- Forest undergrowth and hot valleys to 1800 metres in the Himalayas.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Wind
- No
- Maritime
- No
- Pollution
- No
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
seed
Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn. Stored seed may requires up to 3 months cold stratification, though scarification may also help[5]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. Germination should take place in late spring, though it might take another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in early summer.
cutting
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August [Britain] in a frame[20]. Root cuttings, 3cm long, planted horizontally in pots in a greenhouse. Good percentage[15].
suckers
Seeds require stratification. Semi-ripe and root cuttings work, as do suckers, removed in late winter and planted into their permanent positions[5].
- Seed Requires Scarification
- Yes
- Seed Requires Smokification
- No
- Seed Requires Stratification
- Yes
- Seed Dormancy Depth
- intermediate
- Cutting Type
- semi-ripe, root
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a good deep well-drained moisture retentive soil in full sun or semi-shade[2][4][10]. This species is closely related to Z. planispinum[10]. Flowers are formed on the old wood[11]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Crops
Seeds
Pick the fuits when the papery shells begin to split, showing the black seeds inside. Pick a whole head of fruits at a time, stems and all.
- Requires processing
- Yes
- Processing
- The fruits must be dried for use.
- Storable
- Yes
- Storage
- Dry in the store for up to a year, but in ambient air temperatures the aroma is lost within a few months -- storing in the freezer retains the aroma for much longer[1].
References
Crawford
Unresolved citation
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 32202/01/01
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 32202/01/01
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 32202/01/01
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 32202/01/01 ISBN 0942375009
Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 32202/01/01
Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 32202/01/01
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 32202/01/01
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 32202/01/01
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 32202/01/01 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 32202/01/01
Crawford, Martin Creating a Forest Garden Permanent Publications ()
www.pfaf.org Plants For a Future (2012/07/26)
- www.pfaf.org
www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia ()
- www.wikipedia.org
Crawford, Martin Creating a Forest Garden Permanent Publications
Plants For a Future 2012/07/26 www.pfaf.org
Wikipedia www.wikipedia.org