Zanthoxylum avicennae
(Lam.) DC.
Rutaceae
Fagara avicennae Lam.
Fagara diversifolia (Warb.) Engl.
Xanthoxylum lentiscifolium Champ. ex Benth.
Zanthoxylum diversifolium Warb.
Zanthoxylum iwahigense Elmer
Zanthoxylum tidorense Miq.
Common Name:
Young, cultivated plant growing in Hong Kong
Photograph by: Daderot
Public domain
General Information
Zanthoxylum avicennae is a prickly, evergreen shrub (occasionally adopting a climbing habit) or a small tree growing up to 15 metres tall[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
654- Title
- Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Vol. 47
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1966
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A treatment of the Malaysian species of Zanthoxylum, amongst other articles. It can be downloaded from the internet.
]. Plants from dry, open and mountainous locations tend to become dwarfed or scandent with much reduced leaves and inflorescences[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a condiment, medicine and timber.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
654- Title
- Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Vol. 47
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1966
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A treatment of the Malaysian species of Zanthoxylum, amongst other articles. It can be downloaded from the internet.
Range
E. Asia - southern China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam.
Habitat
Secondary forests in lowland flat areas, hillsides, valleys; at elevations from 400 - 700 metres in southern China[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. Dry forest, thickets and open slopes at elevations up to 1,650 metres[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 12.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.
Edible Uses
The leaves are used to flavour food[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. They smell like coriander[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The fruits are used to flavour food. They smell like anise[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Medicinal
A decoction of the stem and bark are used as a stomach tonic and to treat snake bites[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
345- Title
- Minor Products of Philippine Forests
- Publication
-
- Author
- Brown. W. H.
- Publisher
- Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
- Year
- 1920
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
The reddish wood is hard, dense and heavy. It is used to make small tool handles[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed may requires up to 3 months cold stratification, though scarification may also help[
113- Title
- The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W.
- Publisher
- Athens Ga. Varsity Press
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0942375009
- Description
- A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
]. Germination should take place within 6 months, though it might take another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them until large enough to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood.
Root cuttings, 3cm long, planted horizontally in pots. Good percentage[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Suckers, removed when the plant is dormant, and planted direct into their permanent positions[
113- Title
- The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W.
- Publisher
- Athens Ga. Varsity Press
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0942375009
- Description
- A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
