Zanthoxylum simulans
Szechuan Pepper
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Zanthoxylum genus in the family Rutaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Genus
- Zanthoxylum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 4 m
- Spread
- 6 m
- Fertility
- self sterile
- Flower type
- dioecious
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The fruit is dried and used as a condiment[15][16][2][8]. A pepper flavour, it is stronger and more pungent than black pepper[10]. It can be used whole or ground into a powder and used as a table seasoning[10]. A light roasting brings out more of the flavour[12]. It is an ingredient of the famous Chinese 'five spice' mixture[12].
- Product or use
- Condiment
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 section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Astringent, diaphoretic, emmenagogue[5][9]. The pericarp is anaesthetic, diuretic, parasiticide and vasodilator[7]. It is used in the treatment of gastralgia and dyspepsia due to cold with vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, ascariasis and dermal diseases[7]. It has a local anaesthetic action and is parasiticide against the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium)[7]. The pericarp contains geraniol. In small doses this has a mild diuretic action, though large doses will inhibit the excretion of urine[7]. There is a persistent increase in peristalsis at low concentration, but inhibition at high concentration[7]. The leaves are carminative, stimulant and sudorific[6][13]. The fruit is carminative, diuretic, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[6][13]. The seed is antiphlogistic and diuretic[13]. A decoction of the root is digestive and also used in the treatment of snakebites[13]. The resin contained in the bark, and especially in that of the roots, is powerfully stimulant and tonic[18].
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Anthelmintic
- Product or use
- Antidote
- Product or use
- Antiphlogistic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Digestive
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emmenagogue
- Product or use
- Stimulant
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Product or use
- Vasodilator
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Virgin wilds, hillsides and open woods[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent 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
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[17]. Suckers, removed in late winter and planted into their permanent positions[4].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Easily grown in loamy soils in most positions, but prefers a good deep well-drained moisture retentive soil in full sun or semi-shade[1][3][11]. A plant has been growing well for many years in deep woodland shade at Cambridge Botanical gardens, it was fruiting heavily in autumn 1996[K]. Cultivated for its seed, which is used as a condiment in China[15][16]. Flowers are formed on the old wood[12]. The bruised leaves are strongly aromatic[14]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986-00-00
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X