Practical
Plants

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

Hercules Club

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rutaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Edible uses

The following report is for Z. americanum, it is probably also applicable to this species[K]. Seed - used as a condiment. A pepper substitute[2]. The fruit is rather small, about 4 - 5m in diameter[10], but is produced in dense clusters which makes harvesting easy[K]. Each fruit contains a single seed[10].

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.

This species is quite widely used in herbal medicine, it has the same properties as Z. americanum, but is said to be more active[12]. All parts of the plant, but especially the bark and roots, contain the aromatic bitter oil xanthoxylin[12]. This has a number of applications in medicine[12]. The fruit has a similar medicinal action to the bark[12]. The bark and roots are irritant, odontalgic and antirheumatic[7]. Along with the fruit they are diaphoretic, stimulant and a useful tonic in debilitated conditions of the stomach and digestive organs[12]. They produce arterial excitement and are of use in the treatment of fevers, ague, poor circulation etc[12]. The fruits are considered more active than the bark, they are also antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic and antirheumatic[12][7][8]. The pulverized root and bark are used to ease the pain of toothache[7][8]. One report says that it is very efficacious, but the sensation of the acrid bark is fully as unpleasant as the toothache[7]. Chewing the bark induces copious salivation[8]. Rubbing the fruit against the skin, especially on the lips or in the mouth, produces a temporary loss of sensation[K]. A tea or tincture of the bark has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, dyspepsia, dysentery, heart and kidney troubles etc[8]. A tea made from the inner bark has been used to treat itchy skin[7].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Irritant
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

Wood - light, soft, weak and close-grained[14][10]. It weighs 31lb per cubic foot[9]. Too small for commercial use[10].

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - Virginia to Florida, west to Texas and Arkansas.
Habitat
Usually found as scattered trees near the coast in light sandy soils, often on bluffs of islands, river banks or dunes[10]. Best growth is from plants in most rich soils with good drainage[10].
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
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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[4]. 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. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Root cuttings, 3cm long, planted horizontally in pots in a greenhouse. Good percentage[13]. Suckers, removed in late winter and planted into their permanent positions[4].

Cultivation

Prefers a good deep well-drained moisture retentive soil in full sun or semi-shade[1][3][5]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[5]. The leaves are often persistent until the following spring when the new leaves are produced[14]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Flowers are formed on the old wood[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

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  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  6. Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4

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  7. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

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  10. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  11. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

  12. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

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  14. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

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