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Useful Tropical Plants

Zanthoxylum avicennae

(Lam.) DC.

Rutaceae

+ Synonyms

Fagara avicennae Lam.

Fagara diversifolia (Warb.) Engl.

Xanthoxylum lentiscifolium Champ. ex Benth.

Zanthoxylum diversifolium Warb.

Zanthoxylum iwahigense Elmer

Zanthoxylum tidorense Miq.

Common Name:

Zanthoxylum avicennae
Young, cultivated plant growing in Hong Kong
Photograph by: Daderot
Public domain
Zanthoxylum avicennae Zanthoxylum avicennae Zanthoxylum avicennae Zanthoxylum avicennae Zanthoxylum avicennae Zanthoxylum avicennae

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 *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height12.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Zanthoxylum+avicennae>

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